DAR ES SALAAM: TWIGA Stars’ Head Coach, Bakari Shime, has applauded his players after their 3-1 victory over Equatorial Guinea, citing discipline and battling spirit as vital factors in their success.
Twiga Stars will have a relaxed assignment in Equatorial Guinea for the second leg on Thursday, with a win of any margin or a draw advancing the ladies to the next stage of the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) qualifiers.
Equatorial Guinea will need a three-goal margin to flip the table over, or two goals to force a penalty shootout.
Coach Shime stated that he was aware that the match would be a tough struggle acknowledging Equatorial Guinea as a tough opponent with good squad as a result; they must take advantage of every goal-scoring opportunity to make an impression.
“The players performed admirably; everything was meticulously planned and executed. We dominated the game and took advantage of scoring opportunities in the second half. This was a collective effort and I am happy of how each player completed their tasks,” he noted.
He added that the victory has not deflated them and they will be prepared and disciplined to ensure that their second leg is even more fruitful than the first leg on Thursday.
“This is just the first step in our journey. We have an important second leg ahead of us and we cannot afford to relax. We need to remain focused, stay disciplined and work even harder in training to ensure we secure our place in the next round.”
Twiga Stars forward, Stumai Abdallah said it was an excellent performance in which they gave their all. “This victory means a lot to us. We worked hard in training and today we demonstrated our strength on the pitch. We realise the work isn’t over yet and we need to stay focused on the second leg. We want to advance to the next round and eventually qualify for WAFCON.
“I would also like to take this opportunity to thank our supporters. Their encouragement means everything to the team and we pledge to continue fighting for our country. We shift our attention to the next match,” she said. The aggregate winner between Tanzania and Equatorial Guinea will advance to the second qualification round, where they will face either Uganda or Ethiopia.
