Tanzania faces uphill task

TANZANIA’S Under-17 Girls Team, Serengeti Girls suffered a significant 3-0 defeat against Zambia in the second round of the Under-17 World Cup qualifiers at Azam Complex in Dar es Salaam yesterday.

Zambia capitalised on their second-half opportunities, scoring all three goals after a goalless first half. The defeat means that Tanzania must now secure a four-goal margin in the return leg next week in Zambia to advance to the third round.

A three-goal victory for Tanzania in the second leg would lead to a penalty shootout to determine who progresses further in the tournament.

The first half was a close contest with Tanzania dominating possession while Zambia focused on defending and launching quick counterattacks.

The Zambian side employed tight marking and high pressing whenever Tanzania had the ball, making it difficult for them to build attacks smoothly.

Despite the danger posed by Zambia’s counters, Tanzania’s defence stood strong, successfully preventing the Zambian attackers from creating clear-cut opportunities.

Zambia’s Grace Phiri and Ruth Makoma were particularly effective at exploiting the counterattacks, using their speed and skill to threaten the Tanzanian defence.

However, the Tanzanian defenders remained alert and resolute, pushing them wide whenever they entered dangerous areas.

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This disciplined defensive approach paid off in the first half, as they managed to frustrate Zambia’s attempts to turn their counters into real scoring threats, neutralising the danger before it could materialise.

As the first half neared its conclusion, Tanzania caught Zambia off guard with a swift counterattack.

The ball was played through to Winfrida Mathias, who surged forward from midfield. With remarkable composure, she weaved through the Zambian defence, creating a clear opportunity to strike.

However, just as she prepared to shoot, a robust challenge from the defenders threw her off balance. Despite the pressure, she managed to release a shot, but it lacked the power.

The ball rolled gently into the hands of the Zambian goalkeeper Bukata Kakumbi, who calmly collected it, bringing an end to the promising attack.

Zambia’s tactics paid off in the 64th minute, with Grace Phiri seizing a golden opportunity. After a swift counter-attack, Grace found herself unmarked, with defenders scrambling to close her down.

The Tanzania goalkeeper, Mariam Manyenyere, just a few steps away from her goal line, was caught off-guard. With time and space at her disposal, Grace composed herself and delivered a brilliant lob.

The ball soared high into the air and as the goalkeeper stretched desperately to intercept it, her fingertips could only graze it. It flew beyond her reach and nestled into the back of the net.

Tanzania responded just six minutes later, in the 70th minute, through Melkia William. She unleashed a powerful long-range strike, but Zambia’s goalkeeper, Bukata Kakumbi, was equal to the task. She dove with precision, denying William’s shot with a brilliant save.

Then, in the 75th minute, Zambia’s captain, Mercy Chipasula, sent a warning to Tanzania with a bullet of a shot aimed at the top corner.

Tanzania’s goalkeeper, Mariam Manyenyere, displayed her quick reflexes, tipping the ball over the bar with the tips of her fingers, just in time to avert danger.

But it wasn’t long before Mercy would strike again.

In the 80th minute, a defensive blunder by Tanzania gifted Mercy another chance. As they failed to clear the ball properly, it ricocheted off their defenders and landed perfectly for the Zambia skipper to pounce.

With composure, Mercy slotted it into the net, doubling Zambia’s lead.

As the final minutes ticked away, Zambia’s dominance was sealed. In the dying moments of the match, Mercy completed her brace by converting a late penalty with clinical precision.