Tanzania captain Opa Clement reflects on WAFCON exit with pride and optimism

Tanzania’s journey at the 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations came to an early conclusion after finishing bottom of Group C with just a single point.

Despite the outcome, Twiga Stars captain Opa Clement Tukumbuke has insisted that their campaign was far from a failure.

For all of us, it was our first participation. We came with the ambition of reaching the final but we stopped early. It’s not a failure. We represented our nation with pride, we gave everything, Clement told reporters, expressing satisfaction with her team’s effort and growth during the tournament.

Tanzania, featuring in only their second Women’s AFCON finals since their debut in 2010, struggled to find consistency across their group stage matches.

They suffered defeats to Mali and Ghana, while their solitary point came from a spirited 1-1 draw against reigning champions South Africa—a performance Clement singled out as a major source of pride.

We took a point against the reigning champions. That’s something, said the 24-year-old midfielder, who also etched her name into history by scoring Tanzania’s first-ever goal in the final phase of the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations.Her goal briefly gave Tanzania the lead against South Africa, showcasing the team’s ability to challenge top-tier opposition.

Although the Twiga Stars were eliminated at the group stage, their performance showed moments of promise and resilience.

Clement highlighted the lessons they gained from the experience, particularly the need for focus in crucial moments.

This tournament taught us what high level is all about. The beginning determines everything. Against Mali, we tried everything but we conceded a goal at the end. Against South Africa, we opened the scoring. Against Ghana, we came back to 1-1 before cracking, she explained.

The early exit may have dashed Tanzania’s hopes of progressing further, but it has not shaken their belief in the project they are building.

The national team’s return to the continental stage after a 14-year absence is a testament to the work put in by the Tanzanian Football Association and the determination of the players.

As the team looks ahead, Clement remains confident that the experience gained will serve as a springboard for future campaigns.

We’re going to analyze all of that. This is only the beginning, she concluded, promising that the Twiga Stars will return stronger and more prepared for the challenges that lie ahead.