Twiga Stars head coach Bakari Shime says his squad is in high spirits and fully focused as Tanzania intensifies preparations for its opening match at the 2026 Women's Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) against South Africa.
The national women's team will kick off its Group campaign on July 27 in Rabat, Morocco, with hopes of making a strong start against one of Africa's football powerhouses.
Twiga Stars are currently in Morocco for the final phase of preparations after completing a three-week training camp in Karatu, where the technical bench worked on improving the team's fitness, tactical organisation and match readiness.
Speaking from the team's training base, Shime said the players have adapted well and are approaching the tournament with confidence and determination.
"We arrived safely in Morocco and preparations are progressing well. The players are in good condition, morale is high and we are now concentrating on the final tactical and mental preparations ahead of the opening match," he said.
Shime said the sessions in Morocco are a continuation of the work undertaken in Tanzania, with the coaching staff refining tactical details to ensure the team is ready for the challenge posed by reigning African champions South Africa.
The coach disclosed that Twiga Stars had planned to play international friendly matches before the tournament, beginning with Nigeria, but the fixture was cancelled after logistical and administrative arrangements failed to materialise.
"We had planned to play Nigeria as part of our preparations, but the match could not take place because the necessary arrangements were not completed. The Tanzania Football Federation is continuing efforts to secure the friendly matches we had scheduled," he said.
Despite the disruption to the warm-up programme, Shime said the coaching staff remains confident that the team's intensive training camp has provided a solid foundation ahead of the tournament.
"Our objective is to ensure the players are physically, mentally and tactically ready to compete from the first whistle. We know we are facing a strong opponent, but we are determined to begin the tournament positively and fight for a good result," he said.
Twiga Stars will be aiming to produce an impressive performance against South Africa as Tanzania seeks to make its mark at this year's WAFCON finals.
