Africa-Press – Tanzania. TWIGA Stars head coach Bakari Shime has praised his players for their growing maturity and discipline ahead of tomorrow’s decisive return-leg clash against Ethiopia in the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) qualifiers at the Abebe Bikila Stadium in Addis Ababa.
The Tanzanian women’s national team travelled to the Ethiopian capital yesterday with a 2–0 advantage from the first leg played in Dar es Salaam last Wednesday.
Victory on aggregate would secure them a place at the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) finals. Shime believes his increasingly composed side is ready to achieve.
Speaking ahead of the fixture, Shime expressed satisfaction with both the team’s mental focus and physical readiness, confirming that all players are fit and in good spirits.
“The team is in great shape and everyone is fit. What pleases me most is their focus and maturity they understand what’s at stake and how to handle the pressure,” he said.
The coach added that the sense of responsibility now running through the squad is part of a longer-term vision that also includes preparations for the forthcoming Olympic Games.
“We are treating the 2026 WAFCON qualification as part of our build-up towards the Olympic Games to be staged in the United States. The players are learning to stay calm under pressure that’s the kind of maturity we need at international level,” Shime explained.
In the first leg, Twiga Stars showed composure as Jamila Rajab opened the scoring from sustained pressure on Ethiopia’s defence, before Aisha Mnunka wrapped up the 2–0 win with a clinical finish in the second half.
Reflecting on that performance, Shime praised the players’ tactical awareness and ability to control the tempo of the game.
“They showed real discipline and intelligence. In the past, we might have rushed things, but now there’s patience in how we build play. That’s a sign of growth,” he noted.
Twiga Stars need only a draw or any kind of win to progress, while Ethiopia face an uphill task, requiring at least a 3–0 victory to overturn the deficit and qualify for WAFCON 2026.
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