Twiga Stars in do-or-die Afcon encounter against Togo
What you need to know:
- The match has been scheduled to take place at the Stade de Kegue in Lome, Togo, from 7pm Tanzania time and Twiga Stars need only draw to qualify for the finals
Dar es Salaam. Tanzania’s national women’s senior football team (Twiga Stars) today face Togo in the second leg of the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) qualifier.
The match has been scheduled to take place at the Stade de Kegue in Lome, Togo, from 7pm Tanzania time and Twiga Stars need only draw to qualify for the finals.
In the first leg match played at Azam Complex in Dar es Salaam, Twiga Stars won 3-0.
Twiga Stars head coach Bakari Shime said he is optimistic of winning the encounter, noting that his players have trained well ahead of the game, and will not let Tanzanians down.
“The players are ready for the match. This is a do or die encounter. We will not let them dominate and score against us. We have match plan that would be applied to counter them,” said Shime.
He said they are taking the encounter seriously, and victory is their target, calling upon all football lovers to pray for the team so that it qualify for the competition for second time in history.
Twiga Stars qualified into the Afcon finals in 2010 after beating Ethiopia on 4-2 goals aggregate 4–2. The first leg was played in Addis Ababa on March 8, 2010 and Tanzania won the match 3–1, with goals by Ester Chabruma, Mwanahamis Omary and Asha Rashid. The return leg played at Uhuru Stadium in Dar es Salaam on March 29, 20210 ended in a 1–1 draw.
The reputable Tanzanian coach selected 24 players tasked to take Tanzania into the Afcon finals for the second time. The players are goalkeepers: Naijat Abas, Zulfa Makau, both from JKT Queens, and Husna Mtunda from Yanga Princess. Defenders are Julietha Singano who plays for Mexico’s side Juarez, Anastazia Katunzi, Christer Bahera, Vaileth Nicholaus, Happy Hezron (all from JKT Queens) and Fatma Issa of Simba Queens.
Midfielders are Diana Mnali, Stumai Abdalla, Ester Mabanza, Joyce Lema, Janeth Christopher, Amina Bilal, Eto Hamisi, and Winifrida Gerald, all from JKT Queens.
Enekia Kasonga, currently with the Eastern Flames of Saudi Arabia, and Aisha Juma from the Simba Queens add flair to the midfield, along with Diana Lucas, who plies her trade for the Turkish side, Ameds F.K.
The striking force of Twiga Stars comprises Aisha Masaka, who features for BK Hacken of Sweden, Donisia Minja, Jamila Rajabu (both from JKT Queens), and Opah Clement, who plays for Beskitas of Turkey.
The Afcon qualifier holds immense significance for the Twiga Stars. Shime’s selection of the squad reflects a balance of defensive solidity, midfield creativity, and striking prowess.
Hopes are high as Twiga Stars embark on this journey, showcasing the diverse talent that forms the backbone of women's football in Tanzania.
