Africa-Press – Tanzania. THE Head Coach of Tanzania’s national under-17 girls’ football team – Serengeti Girls, Bakari Shime has cautioned that the return leg of their 2026 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup qualifier against Botswana will be far from straightforward.
The Serengeti Girls secured a 3–2 victory in the first leg played at Obed Itani Chilume Stadium here on Thursday, with the decisive return fixture scheduled for 19 April in Dar es Salaam.
“We are pleased to have won our first match, as that was part of our plan. However, this victory will not make us complacent because the return leg will not be easy. If we have beaten them at home, they too can beat us on our ground,” Shime said.
He added that the focus now shifts to refining preparations and correcting the mistakes observed in his squad in order to secure a favourable result and progress to the next stage of the competition.
The team has already begun its journey back home and is expected to arrive later today.
The Serengeti Girls require either a win or a draw to advance. The aggregate winner will face South Africa in the next round, with the eventual victor set to meet the winner between Kenya and Uganda.
In Thursday’s encounter, Tanzania’s goals came from Fatuma Hassan in the 15th minute, Bahati Steven in the 40th minute and Zuhura Mlekwa just before half-time in the 45th minute.
The hosts pulled one back in the 42nd minute before adding a second from the penalty spot early in the second half.
Momentum shifted following Botswana’s second goal, with both sides exchanging attacks in a competitive finish.
The finals of the tournament are scheduled to take place in Morocco later this year.
The Serengeti Girls are aiming to qualify for a second appearance, having previously reached the finals in 2022, held in India
