Tanzania’s Twiga Stars have suffered a 4-1 defeat to Ghana and exited the on-going TotalEnergies CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) 2024 in Morocco.

Going into the Group C match at the Stade Municipal de Berkane on Monday night, the two teams had a point each and Tanzania needed a clear win to qualify for the knock out stage.

The two teams kicked off with hunger, but Ghana took the lead after 12 minutes when goalkeeper Najati Abass’ clearance came off Princella Adubea and into the net.

After 21 minutes skipper Opa Clemet Tukumbuke had a shot a goal for Tanzania, but her shot missed the target.

Later a free kick by Anastazia Katunzi and a shot by Stumai Abdallah was deflected by the Ghanaian defender to make it 1-1 after 40 minutes.

After recess, Ghana’s Black Queens rose to the occasion to score three more goals. Alice Kusi converted a penalty for Ghana after 63 minutes after Katunzi had fouled in the box.

Substitute Evelyn Badu made it 3-1 after finishing off from a rebound, while Chantelle Boye-Hlorkah put the icing on the cake to give Ghana a 4-1 win and set-up a clash against Algeria in the round of eight.

Tanzania started her campaign with a 1-0 defeat to Mali, and later held reigning champions South Africa 1-1 in their second match.

Bakari Shime, the Tanzania head coach said that his team collapsed in the second half. “We tried to fight back after conceding an early goal, but failed to close spaces in the second half,” added Shime.

Tanzania were the only team from the CECAFA Zone that qualified for the WAFCON 2024.

Twiga Stars have made a false start in their opening Group C match at the on-going TotalEnergies CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) 2024.

Tanzania suffered a 1-0 defeat to Mali in a match played at the Stade Municipal De Berkane on Monday night.

After the two sides had near misses at goal, it was the Female Eagles who pounced on Tanzania’s poor clearance giving chance for Saratou Traore to score from close range in the first minute of stoppage time at the end of the first half.

The Twiga Stars returned determined and hungry to get goals as they dominated play in the second half, but the absence of skipper Opa Clement Tukumbuke (serving suspension) and Clara Luvanga (injured) was evident.

Jamila Mnunduka came close for Tanzania but her headed effort missed the target. Twiga Stars coach Bakari Shime brought in the fresh legs of 18-year old Winfrida Gerald, but to no avail as the Malian team defended in numbers.

In an earlier Group C match the defending champions South Africa defeated Ghana 2-0. Tanzania will return to action against South Africa in Oujda on Friday.

The Twiga Stars of Tanzania will kick start their Group C campaign against Togo as the Total Energies Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) 2024 enters Day 3 today.

Tanzania will battle Mali at the Stade Municipal De Berkane Stadium.

Bakari Nyundo Shime, the Tanzania head coach has made it clear that the opening match in such a tournament is very crucial and they are ready to go all out.

“We shall be determined to get a good result. The team has prepared well and played several build-up matches,” added Shime who also guided Tanzania to qualification for the _{FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup 2022.}

Skipper Opah Clement Tukumbuke and Saudi Arabia based striker Clara Luvanga will lead Twiga Stars attack. Going into the tournament Shime’s team went on a nine-match unbeaten run before falling 4-0 to Morocco few days ago.

Tanzania will however miss the services of forward Aisha Masaka who features for Brighton & Hove Albion in the English Women’s Super League. Masaka didnot make the squad after picking an injury before the CECAFA Senior Women’s Challenge Cup last month.

While Tanzania who are the only team from the CECAFA Zone will be making their second appearance in the WAFCON, they play against Mali who are making their eighth appearance.

The competition which kicked off on Saturday with hosts Morocco and Zambia settling for a 2-2 draw, while Senegal humbled DR Congo 4-0 in Group A matches.

On Sunday Algeria defeated Botswana 1-0, while Nigeria saw off Tunisia 3-0 in Group B matches.

After an increment in the prize money by CAF, the winners will pocket USD1,000,000, while the runners-up take USD500,000. The third placed team will take USD350,000, the fourth placed USD300,000, while the four teams knocked out at the quarter stage take USD200,000 each. The 3rd placed teams in each group will take USD150,000 and the 4th placed USD125,000.

Tanzania’s Twiga Stars are 90-minutes away from qualifying for the TotalEnergies CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) 2024.

Coach Bakari Shime’s team handled Togo a 3-0 defeat in the first leg of the final hurdle of the qualifiers played at the Azam Complex in Tanzania on Thursday.

The visiting Togolese team that ejected Djibouti in the first round played a highly defensive approach, but Twiga Stars skipper Opa Clement Tukumbuke Sanga made sure she put her team ahead three minutes into added time of the first half.

After recess Kouno Yawa netted an own goal to give Twiga Stars a 2-0 lead after 51 minutes. The Turkish based professional Tukumbuke netted here second goal of the day after 82 minutes.

Head coach Shime said it was good to win the first leg, but added that they must prepare well ahead of the return leg on December 5th. ” There is still a lot of work to be done. But it is good that we managed to win the home tie, ” added Shime who also guided Tanzania to qualify for the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup last year.

In another match played on Saturday Burundi suffered a 5-1 defeat away to Algeria. Peace Niyomwungere opened the scoring for Burundi after 29 minutes, but the hosts woke up to score a hattrick through Ines Boutaleb and a goal each by Lina Boussaha and Imane Chebel.

On Wednesday Botswana held Kenya to a 1-1 draw at the Nyayo Stadium in Nairobi. Keitumyse Dithebe gave the visitors the lead after 37 minutes, but Marjolene Nekesa leveled matters four minutes into added time of the first half.

A total of 12 teams will qualify for the group stages, and will join automatically-qualified hosts Morocco.