Tanzania’s Twiga Stars pulled off one of the biggest upsets of the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON), defeating defending champions South Africa 2-1 in their Group B opener.
The victory marks Tanzania’s first-ever win at the WAFCON finals, handing the East Africans a dream start to their campaign after entering the tournament determined to reach the knockout stages for the first time.
Diana Lucas Msewa gave Tanzania the lead in the 37th minute after capitalising on a bright start by the Twiga Stars. However, South Africa responded just before the break when experienced defender Bambanani Mbane found the equaliser deep into first-half stoppage time to send the teams into halftime level at 1-1.
With the match seemingly headed for a draw, substitute Hasnath Ubamba emerged as Tanzania’s hero, scoring the decisive goal in the 87th minute to seal a famous victory over the reigning African champions.
The result is a major boost for coach Bakari Shime, who had described the match as a “must-win” fixture before kick-off, insisting Tanzania needed a positive start if they were to achieve their ambition of progressing beyond the group stage.
For South Africa, the defeat is a disappointing start to the defence of their continental title. Coach Desiree Ellis had warned before the match against underestimating Tanzania, recalling the closely contested encounters between the two sides in recent years.
The victory not only earns Tanzania three valuable points but also sends a strong message that the Twiga Stars are ready to challenge Africa’s traditional powerhouses at this year’s tournament.
