Tanzania’s women’s national football team, Twiga Stars, is preparing for the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (Wafcon) with a crucial friendly match against Nigeria.The game, scheduled for July 19 in Casablanca, Morocco, serves as a final test before the tournament begins on July 26.The team is currently in a residential training camp in Karatu, Arusha Region, focusing on fitness, tactics, and team cohesion.Coach Almasy Kasongo emphasized the importance of the friendly as a litmus test against Africa’s top teams.The squad will travel to Morocco to acclimate to local conditions and finalize preparations.Twiga Stars face a tough group in Wafcon, including defending champions South Africa, Ivory Coast, and Burkina Faso.Their group stage matches start with South Africa on July 27, followed by Burkina Faso and Ivory Coast.

The friendly against Nigeria, along with potential matches against Ghana or Mali, aims to refine strategies and identify weaknesses before the tournament.The team’s performance in these pre-tournament games will be critical to their success in Wafcon.