Shime reveals how Tanzania frustrated Banyana Banyana for WAFCON draw

Tanzania women’s national team coach Bakari Shime has revealed the strategy Twiga Stars deployed to deny defending champions South Africa a win in their CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) clash at the Honneur Stadium in Oujda, Morocco, on Friday night.

Banyana Banyana headed into the battle needing a win to reach the last eight of the competition but they were stunned in the 24th minute when captain Opa Clement put the East Africans ahead for their first-ever goal at the WAFCON.

However, second half substitutions by Banyana coach Dr Desiree Ellis enabled them to level matters in the 70th minute through Bambanani Mbane to leave the pitch with a vital point.

“Bravo for my girls, it was a very good game but also a tough one in both halves. Today we tried to change our tactics according to the strength of the opposition and we scored one goal, and we stayed like that for almost 50 minutes. Bad luck for us again because we conceded a goal from a set-piece, but it was a good game for both sides. I am happy with the whole team,” said Shime after the game.

“To play against South Africa is very tough. We planned around this game, and we toiled a lot, so now we have to find a way to recover very quickly, physically and mentally. Then we plan how to play against Ghana – which for us will be a final match, we should win that match.”

The result meant South Africa and Mali are tied on four points each, while Tanzania and Ghana remained locked on a single point apiece. South Africa will next face Mali on Monday at the same venue, while Tanzania will tackle Ghana.