Tanzania ladies must learn, fix and rise again

TANZANIA: TANZANIA’S early exit from the 2025 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) finals was a bitter pill to swallow, but it need not be a moment of despair. Instead, it should serve as a turning point.

Equally, it is a moment not to look down in disappointment but to look up with resolve.

Drawn into a formidable group alongside defending champions South Africa, tournament semi-finalists Ghana and quarter-finalists Mali, Tanzania faced some of the continent’s most experienced teams.

These were not mere opponents; they were heavyweights of African women’s football. While we did not advance, this was never a group designed for excuses, it was only for lessons. And lessons, we must take.

The results were tough. A narrow 1-0 loss to Mali, a courageous 1-1 draw with South Africa and a painful 4-1 defeat to Ghana. Add to this the 4-0 friendly loss to Morocco before the tournament began and the story becomes clearer: there is work to do.

Yet, we must not forget that this is the same Tanzania that lifted the CECAFA Women’s Championship unbeaten proof that we have the talent and potential to compete.

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There is no shame in being outplayed by seasoned sides, but there is great shame in failing to respond. What is needed now is introspection, that is to say being honest, technical and collective. The Tanzania technical bench must revisit each game, from preparation to execution and identify the gaps. Where did we fall short tactically? Was it physical conditioning? Was it confidence under pressure?

None of this is beyond repair. None of it is beyond us. We must return to training with a fresh mind-set. Back to basics. Back to building the foundations that saw us crowned regional champions. The focus must shift to development, preparation and the hunger to be counted among the best, not just in East Africa, but across the continent.

As Nigeria and Morocco contest tomorrow’s final, our concern is not who lifts the trophy, but how we ensure we are competing for it next time. Let this tournament mark not the end of a dream, but the beginning of a new mission.