Tanzania have played six matches at the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations. They have lost five.
The exception came against South Africa.
Banyana Banyana and the Twiga Stars will begin their Group B campaigns on Monday 27 July at the Moulay Rachid Stadium in Casablanca. Kick-off is at 18:00 in Morocco and 19:00 in Spain. Ivory Coast and Burkina Faso complete the group.
It will be their third meeting at the tournament and their second in consecutive editions.
Tanzania’s only point
South Africa won their first meeting 2-1 in 2010, when they were the hosts. Mamphasha Phopela opened the scoring, Esther Chabruma equalised before half-time and Mamello Makhabane decided the match with an 87th-minute penalty.
They met again at the previous edition. Opah Clement gave Tanzania the lead in the 24th minute before Bambanani Mbane equalised for South Africa in the 70th.
That 1-1 remains Tanzania’s only point at the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations. The Twiga Stars have lost their other five matches and are still searching for the first victory in their tournament history.
The difference between their records remains considerable.
South Africa have qualified for every edition since 1998, won their first title in 2022 and reached the semi-finals at the previous tournament before finishing fourth. They have progressed beyond the group stage in each of their last nine appearances.
Banyana Banyana are also unbeaten in their last ten group-stage matches, recording eight wins and two draws since their most recent defeat in 2016.
South Africa want to set the tone
Desiree Ellis will lead South Africa at the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations for the fifth time. Under her management, the team have never lost their opening match, recording three victories and one draw.
Their place in Morocco was only secured in added time. South Africa drew 1-1 away to the Democratic Republic of Congo before Thembi Kgatlana scored the only goal of the return leg to complete a 2-1 aggregate victory.
Ellis has nevertheless warned that the previous meetings leave no room for underestimating Tanzania.
“It remains a game that we must win,” she said before the opener, stressing that a positive start would allow South Africa to take control of their position in the group.
Refiloe Jane enters the tournament having reached 150 international appearances. The midfielder is one of the most experienced members of a squad trying to recover the title it surrendered at the previous edition.
Tanzania arrive with continuity
Tanzania are preparing for their third Women’s Africa Cup of Nations and have qualified for consecutive editions for the first time.
The Twiga Stars defeated former champions Equatorial Guinea 4-2 on aggregate in the first qualifying round before overcoming Ethiopia 3-0 across the two legs of the decisive tie.
Their final warm-up match also demonstrated their ability to frustrate stronger opponents. Tanzania held Ghana to a 0-0 draw after defending with discipline and limiting the clear chances created by a side that controlled possession for long periods.
Opah Clement will again be one of their main attacking threats. The forward, who played for Eibar last season, scored against South Africa at the previous edition and hopes to transfer the experience she has gained in Liga F to the national team.
“I want to score more goals,” she said before the match. Clement also argued that playing in Spain had added something different to her game and that she wanted to reproduce it with Tanzania.
South Africa begin as favourites because of their experience, form and tournament record. Tanzania are still pursuing their first victory at the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations.
They also know that the only point they have earned so far came against the team standing in front of them.