# Tanzania women's national football team

The Tanzania national women's football team, is the national team of Tanzania and is controlled by the Tanzania Football Federation. They are nicknamed the Twiga Stars.
The Twiga Stars qualified for their first CAF Women's Championship finals on 5 June 2010, after defeating Eritrea 11–4 on aggregate.

## History
### 2010

The Twiga Stars defeated Ethiopia in the preliminary round of the 2010 African Women's Football Championship on aggregate 4–2. The first leg was played in Addis Ababa on 8 March. Tanzania won the match 3–1, with goals by Ester Chabruma, Mwanahamis Omary, and Asha Rashid. The return leg played at Uhuru Stadium in Dar es Salaam on 29 March ended in a 1–1 draw.
In the first round of the African Championship, Tanzania defeated Eritrea on aggregate 11–4. The Twiga Stars won 8–1 in Dar es Salaam on 23 May and drew 3–3 in Asmara on 5 June.
After the Twiga Stars' success in qualifying for the African Championship finals in South Africa, a Tanzanian businesswoman, Rahma Al-Kharoosi, sponsored them to train in the United States for two weeks in August 2010. Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete donated 53 million Tanzanian shillings (approximately US$30,000) on 9 June to cover training camp expenses and allowances before the championship tournament.
Tanzania lost all three games in Group A of the African Championship, to host South Africa 2–1 on 31 October, Mali 3–2 on 4 November, and Nigeria 3–0 on 7 November.
They are the subject of 2010 documentary film Twiga Stars: Tanzania's Soccer Sisters by Nisha Ligon.

### 2011

Tanzania qualified for the 2011 All-Africa Games in Maputo when its opponents in the qualifying rounds, Kenya, Uganda, and Sudan, declined to play. The Twiga Stars finished in third place in the four-team Group B at the games. They lost to Ghana 2–1 on 5 September, drew with South Africa 2–2 on 8 September, and drew with Zimbabwe 2–2 on 11 September.

### 2012

In the preliminary round of the 2012 African Women's Championship, Tanzania defeated Namibia 2–0 in Windhoek on 14 January and 5–2 in Dar es Salaam on 29 January. In the first round, Tanzania lost to Ethiopia 2–1 in Addis Ababa on 27 May and 1–0 in Dar es Salaam on 16 June. Tanzania thus failed to qualify for the finals of the African Championship in Equatorial Guinea. The head coach, Charles Boniface Mkwasa, resigned two days after the last match with Ethiopia, and the following day, Nasra Mohammed, the assistant coach, blamed inadequate financial support from the Tanzania Football Federation for the failure to advance.
On 21 June, Mkwasa admitted that he had dismissed several players from the team after discovering that they had engaged in homosexual acts.
   It is true that some of the players engaged themselves in homosexuality, but we removed them from the team as soon as we learnt of their behaviour. We took the decision regardless of the player's ability and contribution in the team. There is this problem that these players want to behave like their male counterparts, because they play football, they want to look like men players. But I have always been very tough on this. I have been talking to them, trying to counsel them on how they should behave and I think there is tremendous change on that area and of course their discipline is generally good.
At a subsequent news conference, Mkwasa claimed he had been misquoted. Lina Mhando, the chairperson of Tanzania Women Football, called it a "non-existing scandal" and said there is no concrete proof of the allegations. The team manager, Furaha Francis, said that regardless of whether the scandal exists, it has been blown out of proportion and that there is no proof to substantiate the allegations.

### 2014

Zambia defeated Tanzania in the first round of qualifying for the 2014 African Women's Football Championship on aggregate 3–2.

### 2015

Tanzania has qualified for the 2015 All-Africa Games in Brazzaville, Republic of the Congo by defeating Zambia in the second round of qualifying on aggregate 6–5.

## Results and fixtures

The following is a list of match results in the last 12 months, as well as any future matches that have been scheduled.

### Legend

Win  Draw  Lose  Fixture

### 2025
## Coaching staff
### Current Coaching staff

As of December 2023
| Position | Name | Ref. |
| Head coach | Bakari Shime | |
| Assistant coach | Hilda Masanja | |

### Manager history

* Rogasian Kaijage (????–2021)
* Bakari Shime(2021–2022)
* Oscar Mirambo( 2022–2023)
* Bakari Shime(2023–present)

## Players
### Current squad

* The following players were pre-called up for a match against Equatorial Guinea on 20 February 2025.
* Caps and goals accurate up to and including 30 October 2021.
| No. | Pos. | Player | Date of birth (age) | Club |
| 18 | 1GK | Najiat Abass | (1997-04-02) 2 April 1997 (age 27) | JKT Queens |
| | 1GK | Janeth Shija | (2003-11-05) 5 November 2003 (age 21) | Simba Queens |
| | 1GK | Asha Mrisho | (2004-02-10) 10 February 2004 (age 21) | Mashujaa Queens |
| 2 | 2DF | Anastazia Katunzi | (2000-11-28) 28 November 2000 (age 24) | JKT Queens |
| 5 | 2DF | Lidya Maximillian | | JKT Queens |
| 15 | 2DF | Julitha Singano | (2001-02-08) 8 February 2001 (age 24) | Juárez |
| | 2DF | Noela Patrick | (2005-12-25) 25 December 2005 (age 19) | ASA Tel Aviv |
| | 2DF | Christer Bahera | (2005-11-17) 17 November 2005 (age 19) | JKT Queens |
| | 2DF | Violeth Nicholaus | (2005-02-09) 9 February 2005 (age 20) | Simba Queens |
| | 2DF | Maimuna Hamis | (1997-08-28) 28 August 1997 (age 27) | ZED |
| | 2DF | Ester Mayala | (2000-08-15) 15 August 2000 (age 24) | Simba Queens |
| 3 | 3MF | Hasnath Ubamba | (2006-07-08) 8 July 2006 (age 18) | FC Masar |
| 6 | 3MF | Donisia Minja | (1999-08-09) 9 August 1999 (age 25) | JKT Queens |
| 8 | 3MF | Stumai Abdallah | (1997-08-25) 25 August 1997 (age 27) | JKT Queens |
| 9 | 3MF | Aisha Mnunka | (2005-07-26) 26 July 2005 (age 19) | Simba Queens |
| 11 | 3MF | Diana Lucas | (2002-11-05) 5 November 2002 (age 22) | Trabzonspor |
| 17 | 3MF | Enekia Kasonga | (2002-05-20) 20 May 2002 (age 22) | Mazatlán |
| 19 | 3MF | Elizabeth Chenge | | JKT Queens |
| | 3MF | Ester Maseke | | Bunda Queens |
| | 3MF | Joyce Lema | (2006-10-15) 15 October 2006 (age 18) | JKT Queens |
| | 3MF | Malaika Meena | (2003-03-09) 9 March 2003 (age 21) | Bristol City |
| | 3MF | Suzan Adam | | Tutankhamun |
| | 3MF | Winfrida Gerald | (2008-02-26) 26 February 2008 (age 17) | JKT Queens |
| | 3MF | Asha Ramadhan | | Yanga Princess |
| | 3MF | Janeth Christopher | (2000-11-27) 27 November 2000 (age 24) | JKT Queens |
| | 3MF | Marry Siyame | 2008 (age 16–17) | Fountain Gate Princess |
| | 3MF | Winifrida Charles | | Fountain Gate Princess |
| 7 | 4FW | Opa Clement (captain) | (2001-02-14) 14 February 2001 (age 24) | Juárez |
| 24 | 4FW | Clara Luvanga | (2005-02-25) 25 February 2005 (age 20) | Al-Nassr |
| | 4FW | Aisha Masaka | (2003-11-10) 10 November 2003 (age 21) | Brighton & Hove Albion |
| | 4FW | Jamila Rajabu | (2007-11-10) 10 November 2007 (age 17) | JKT Queens |

### Recent call-ups

The following players have been called up to a Tanzania squad in the past 12 months.
| Pos. | Player | Date of birth (age) | Club | Latest call-up |
| GK | Zulfa Makau | (2006-09-29) 29 September 2006 (age 18) | JKT Queens | v. Togo, 5 December 2023 |
| GK | Husna Mtunda | (2005-05-31) 31 May 2005 (age 19) | Yanga Princess | v. Togo, 5 December 2023 |
| DF | Protasia Mbunda | (1995-04-27) 27 April 1995 (age 29) | Fountain Gate Princess | v. Tunisia, July 2024 |
| DF | Fatuma Issa | (1995-04-06) 6 April 1995 (age 29) | Simba Queens | v. South Africa, 27 February 2024 |
| DF | Happy Hezron | (1996-05-07) 7 May 1996 (age 28) | JKT Queens | v. South Africa, 27 February 2024 |
| MF | Yasinta Mitoga | | JKT Queens | v. Senegal, 27 October 2024 |
| MF | Melikia William | | Bunda Queens | v. Senegal, 27 October 2024 |
| MF | Ester Mabanza | | JKT Queens | v. South Africa, 27 February 2024 |
| MF | Amina Bilali (Captain) | (2001-05-23) 23 May 2001 (age 23) | Yanga Princess | v. South Africa, 27 February 2024 |
| MF | Irene Kisisa | | Yanga Princess | v. South Africa, 27 February 2024 |
| MF | Diana Mnali | (2006-09-11) 11 September 2006 (age 18) | JKT Queens | v. Togo, 5 December 2023 |
| MF | Eto Hamisi | | JKT Queens | |
| FW | Victoria Maselle | 2007 (age 17–18) | Bunda Queens, NASA Tophat GA Navy 06/07 | v. Senegal, 27 October 2024 |
| FW | Elizabeth Charles | | Aliance Girls | v. Tunisia, July 2024 |
| FW | Alia Fikiri | | JKT Queens | v. Mali, 31 May 2024 |

### Previous squads
#### COSAFA Women's Championship

* 2020 COSAFA Women's Championship squad
* 2022 COSAFA Women's Championship squad

#### CECAFA Women's Championship

* 2022 CECAFA Women's Championship squads

## Records

* *Active players in bold, statistics correct as of 2020.

## Competitive record
### FIFA Women's World Cup

FIFA Women's World Cup record :
| Year | Result | Pld | W | D* | L | GS | GA | GD |
| 1991 | did not exist | did not exist | did not exist | did not exist | did not exist | did not exist | did not exist | did not exist |
| 1995 | did not exist | did not exist | did not exist | did not exist | did not exist | did not exist | did not exist | did not exist |
| 1999 | did not exist | did not exist | did not exist | did not exist | did not exist | did not exist | did not exist | did not exist |
| 2003 | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify |
| 2007 | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify |
| 2011 | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify |
| 2015 | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify |
| 2019 | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify |
| 2023 | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify |
| 2027 | to be determined | to be determined | to be determined | to be determined | to be determined | to be determined | to be determined | to be determined |
| Total | 0/10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
    *Draws include knockout matches decided on penalty kicks.

### Olympic Games

Summer Olympics record :
| Year | Result | Pld | W | D* | L | GS | GA | GD |
| 1996 | did not exist | did not exist | did not exist | did not exist | did not exist | did not exist | did not exist | did not exist |
| 2000 | did not exist | did not exist | did not exist | did not exist | did not exist | did not exist | did not exist | did not exist |
| 2004 | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify |
| 2008 | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify |
| 2012 | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify |
| 2016 | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify |
| 2020 | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify |
| 2024 | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify |
| Total | 0/8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
    *Draws include knockout matches decided on penalty kicks.

### Women's Africa Cup of Nations

Africa Women Cup of Nations record :
| Year | Round | GP | W | D | L | GF | GA |
| 1991 | did not exist | did not exist | did not exist | did not exist | did not exist | did not exist | did not exist |
| 1995 | did not exist | did not exist | did not exist | did not exist | did not exist | did not exist | did not exist |
| 1998 | did not exist | did not exist | did not exist | did not exist | did not exist | did not exist | did not exist |
| 2000 | did not exist | did not exist | did not exist | did not exist | did not exist | did not exist | did not exist |
| 2002 | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify |
| 2004 | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify |
| 2006 | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify |
| 2008 | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify |
| 2010 | Group stage | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 8 |
| 2012 | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify |
| 2014 | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify |
| 2016 | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify |
| 2018 | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify |
| 2022 | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify |
| 2024 | Qualified | Qualified | Qualified | Qualified | Qualified | Qualified | Qualified |
| 2026 | To be determined | To be determined | To be determined | To be determined | To be determined | To be determined | To be determined |
| Total | 1/12 | 11 | 1 | 4 | 6 | 6 | 24 |

### African Games

African Games record :
| Year | Round | GP | W | D | L | GS | GA |
| 2003 | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify |
| 2007 | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify |
| 2011 | Group Stage | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 6 |
| 2015 | Group Stage | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 5 |
| 2019 | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify |
| 2023 | Group Stage | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 4 |
| Total | 2/6 | 9 | 0 | 5 | 4 | 9 | 15 |

### CECAFA Women's Championship

CECAFA Women's Championship :
| Year | Round | GP | W | D* | L | GS | GA | GD |
| 1986 |
| 2016 | Winner | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 9 | 4 | +5 |
| 2018 | Winner | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 9 | 4 | +5 |
| 2019 | Runner-up | 5 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 21 | 2 | +19 |
| 2021 | Cancelled | Cancelled | Cancelled | Cancelled | Cancelled | Cancelled | Cancelled | Cancelled |
| 2022 | Fourth | 5 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 18 | 6 | +12 |
| Total | 3/5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |

## Honours
### Regional

* COSAFA Women's Championship
    Champions: 2021
* CECAFA Women's Championship
    Champions: 2016, 2018