DAR ES SALAAM: THE National Women’s Football Team, Twiga Stars, kicked off their Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) campaign with a commanding 3-1 victory over Equatorial Guinea at the Azam Complex in Dar es Salaam.
It was the second half that saw a flurry of action, with Stumai Abdallah, Enekia Kasonga and Diana Msewa each finding the back of the net to seal a well-deserved win for the Tanzanian side.
With this triumph, Twiga Stars now face a more manageable challenge in the second leg, which will be played next Wednesday in Equatorial Guinea.
A win or even a draw in the second leg will be enough to send Tanzania through to the next round. With a solid 3-1 advantage, Twiga Stars are in a strong position and any positive result in Equatorial Guinea will see them advance and meet a winner between Uganda and Ethiopia.
The yesterday’s encounter saw Equatorial Guinea banking a goal first in the late first half through Gertrudis Obiang.
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Equatorial Guinea capitalised after pressing Twiga Stars’ player before the ball meeting Gertrudis who used the space to see the gap before firing a bullet out of the box.
Her strike was too strong for Twiga Stars goalkeeper, Najiat Idrisa, to keep her side safe. The goal concluded the first half with lead on the guest Equatorial Guinea by 1-0.
Tanzania came back from the break with an unstoppable surge of energy and determination, quickly asserting their dominance.
The breakthrough came when Stumai Abdallah orchestrated a dazzling team play, passing beautifully before making a deft touch that left Equatorial Guinea’s goalkeeper, Dolores Masongo, helpless.
Masongo had been exceptional in the first half, but there was nothing she could do to prevent Stumai’s skillful strike.
The momentum continued as Enekia Kasonga rose to the occasion, meeting a cross with a powerful header that sent the ball crashing into the back of the net, doubling Tanzania’s lead. But the real showstopper came from Diana Msewa.
A sloppy clearance from Equatorial Guinea’s defence fell right to her feet. With a stunning display of composure, she weaved through a maze of defenders, outwitting the goalkeeper in a thrilling one-on-one encounter before slotting the ball home with finesse.
Her goal sealed the deal, giving Twiga Stars a dominant 3-1 victory in the first leg.
The stage was set for what promised to be an unforgettable series.
