Twiga Stars face tough task against South Africa in Wafcon
Tanzania national women’s football team players pose for a group photo before a past match. Twiga Stars today face South Africa in their WAFCON opener, with the match kicking off at 8pm. PHOTO | COURTESY
Twiga Stars, making their third appearance at the continental finals, head into the tournament hoping to reach the knockout stage for the first time
Dar es Salaam. Tanzania’s women’s national football team, Twiga Stars, begin their 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) campaign today with arguably their toughest assignment, a Group B showdown against defending champions South Africa in Casablanca, Morocco.
The match will be played at Stade Moulay Rachid in Casablanca, kicking off at 8pm East Africa Time (EAT), which is 3pm local time in Morocco.
Twiga Stars, making their third appearance at the continental finals, head into the tournament hoping to reach the knockout stage for the first time.
They have been drawn in a difficult group that also features Ivory Coast and Burkina Faso, with head coach Bakari Shime setting an ambitious target of reaching the semifinals and securing one of Africa’s qualification places for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
Standing in Tanzania’s way are one of Africa’s most successful women’s teams. South Africa’s Banyana Banyana arrive in Morocco as reigning champions after lifting their maiden WAFCON title in 2022.
Guided by experienced coach Desiree Ellis, they boast a squad rich in continental and international experience and will be aiming to defend their crown successfully.
This year’s tournament marks South Africa’s 14th appearance at the finals. History also favours the Southern Africans. The two sides have met several times, with South Africa dominating the rivalry.
At WAFCON, they first met in the 2010 group stage when Banyana Banyana claimed a 2- 1 victory over Tanzania.
The teams met again during the 2024 edition, where Twiga Stars earned a hard fought 1-1 draw, their first ever point at the continental championship. That result remains Tanzania’s best performance against South Africa in WAFCON history.
For Twiga Stars, the spotlight will be on striker Clara Luvanga, who enjoyed a prolific club season in Saudi Arabia and is expected to spearhead Tanzania’s attack.
Coach Shime has blended experienced local players with foreign based professionals in a squad assembled to compete against Africa’s elite. South Africa, meanwhile, will rely on the core of the squad that delivered the continental title four years ago.
Ellis has expressed satisfaction with her team’s preparations, saying the players have adapted well to the Moroccan conditions after arriving from South Africa.
