Tanzania is set to make a long-awaited return to the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) finals, marking its first appearance at the continental tournament in fifteen years.
Drawn into a formidable group featuring defending champions South Africa, West African heavyweights Ghana, and experienced campaigners Mali, the Tanzanian women’s national team is bracing itself for a stern test.
Head coach Bakari Shime remains optimistic as the Twiga Stars prepare for the challenge. Speaking to CAF Online, Shime underlined the squad’s mental readiness and highlighted the confidence built from recent victories.
“Mentally, we are in a good position to approach the tournament,” he stated. “We recently played two matches against DR Congo, which we won 2-1 and 3-1. This gave us a big boost.
The players are ready, and all of Tanzania supports us as we head into this CAN.”
Facing three of Africa’s strongest teams in the group stage, Shime is under no illusions about the difficulty of the task ahead. “It will be a very tough group,” he admitted.
“We will face strong opponents — notably Mali, who have participated in several editions of the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, and of course South Africa, the reigning champion. I expect a very tough group.”
Despite the uphill battle, Shime and his team are not heading to Morocco merely to make up the numbers. Instead, the Tanzanian side is determined to challenge the established hierarchy and assert itself as a serious competitor. Having embraced the role of underdog, the Twiga Stars aim to disrupt expectations and make their mark on the tournament.
The team’s qualification for this year’s finals is not the result of chance, but rather the culmination of a long-term development strategy that Shime and the Tanzanian Football Federation implemented years ago.
Central to this success has been a consistent and structured youth development programme that built a clear pathway from junior to senior levels.
“It all started with the U17s,” Shime explained. “They were the cornerstone of our reconstruction strategy. We worked hard with the U17s, the U20s, and the senior team. We created a real development pathway: the U17s progress to the U20s, then to the senior team.
This program, launched in 2019, allowed us to lay a solid foundation. Today, we are participating in this WAFCON thanks to this work with our youth teams.”
That foundation has been instrumental in building team chemistry and experience. Many players now in the senior side have come through the ranks together, developing a strong sense of cohesion and shared ambition.
The coaching staff’s focus has not only been on technical ability but also on fostering mental resilience and tactical awareness — qualities that will be vital against Africa’s elite.
Tanzania’s re-emergence on the WAFCON stage is being seen as a symbol of the country’s growing commitment to women’s football. While they may be considered outsiders, the determination and preparation behind the scenes suggest a team unwilling to settle for participation alone.
With the tournament scheduled from 5 to 26 July 2025 in Morocco, the Twiga Stars are entering with ambition and unity, guided by a coach who believes in the long-term vision and the ability of his players to rise to the occasion.
“Our work isn’t finished,” Shime concluded. “This tournament is a test of all we’ve built so far. We are ready to compete and represent Tanzania with pride.”
