Shime unveils star-studded 25-players for WAFCON Qualifier
DAR ES SALAAM: THE Head Coach of Tanzania’s national women’s football team – Twiga Stars, Bakari Shime, has officially named a 25-player squad for the upcoming Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) qualifier against Ethiopia, with JKT Queens dominating the list, contributing a remarkable 12 players.
Unveiled at a press briefing yesterday in Dar es Salaam, the squad is a well-balanced mix of homegrown excellence and foreign-based experience, handpicked to carry Tanzania’s hopes to the continental stage.
“We’ve selected based on performance, discipline and commitment … this group reflects the best of Tanzanian women’s football both locally and abroad,” said Coach Shime.
Fresh off their triumph as Tanzania Women’s Premier League champions and strong representation at the CAF Women’s Champions League, JKT Queens’ dominance in the selection is no surprise.
Their cohesion, consistency and championship pedigree are assets Coach Shime is banking on.
The JKT contingent includes Najat Abbas, Jamila Rajab, Asha Mrisho, Lidya Maximilian, Stumai Abdallah, Elizabeth Chenge, Ester Maseke, Winfrida Gerald, Donisia Minja, Christer Bahera, Janeth Pangamwene and Fumukazi Ally.
Bringing a taste of international competition to the camp are Nusrat Enekia Kasonga and Juleta Singano, both flying in from Juarez FC in Mexico.
Their exposure to high-level football abroad is expected to add composure and leadership to the squad.
The overseas-based lineup also includes Noela Luhala (Asa Tel Aviv, Israel), Diana Lucas (Trabzonspor, Turkey), Hasnath Ubamba (Al Masry, Egypt), Clara Luvanga (Al Nassr, Saudi Arabia) and skipper Opa Clement from SD Eibar of Spain.
Their international experience will be vital as Tanzania looks to match and exceed the tactical sharpness of continental rivals.
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Other Notable Inclusions are Simba Queens Asha Ramadhan, Fatuma Issa and Aisha Nnunka and Maimuna Kaimu from Yanga Princess, Suzan Adam (Tausi Queens) and Nusrat Jaffar from Alliance Girls: This broad-based selection signals Shime’s commitment to fostering talent across Tanzania’s top-tier women’s clubs.
“This team is built to compete, inspire and win. We’re not just preparing for one match, we’re building a legacy,” said Shime.
The upcoming WAFCON edition is particularly significant. The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has announced the expansion of the WAFCON finals from 12 to 16 teams beginning with the 2026 tournament.
Historically an eightteam competition since its 1998 debut, WAFCON was increased to 12 teams in 2022 after the 2020 edition was cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
The 2022 tournament in Morocco saw record engagement and a 45 per cent increase in prize money, pushing the total prize pool to 3.45 million US dollars (approx 8.8bn/-).
CAF’s continued investment signals a brighter future for women’s football in Africa — and Tanzania is determined to be part of that journey.
