Tanzania's Shime Calls for Composure Before Must-Win Ivory Coast Clash
Tanzania head coach Bakari Shime has told his players to stay calm and trust their game plan ahead of a decisive Group B finale against Ivory Coast at the 2026 TotalEnergies CAF Women's Africa Cup of Nations.
The match kicks off at the Larbi Zaouli Stadium in Casablanca on Tuesday, August 4, at 7:00 PM WAT (2:00 PM ET / 18:00 GMT).
Ivory Coast lead Group B on four points after beating Burkina Faso and drawing with South Africa. Tanzania sit second on three points, built on a win over defending champions South Africa and a narrow loss to Burkina Faso. Both teams can still reach the quarter-finals with the right result.
Fixing the buildup problems
Shime said training this week has centered on correcting the mistakes that cost Tanzania against Burkina Faso, particularly in how the team builds and finishes attacks. "Our training has focused on correcting the mistakes we made in our last match, especially in the way we start our attacks, how we progress with the ball, and how we finish our attacking moves," he said, according to comments carried by Pan Africa Football. He added that the team rushed decisions in the Burkina Faso match, including in the buildup to the first goal conceded.
Patience as the game plan
The coach said composure in possession will matter most against Ivory Coast. "We want our players to stay calm when building attacks and follow the game plan we have prepared as a team," Shime said, stressing that discipline and decision-making would decide the outcome.
Learning from the Burkina Faso setback
Shime acknowledged the disappointment that followed the Burkina Faso defeat, coming right after Tanzania's historic win over South Africa had raised hopes of an early quarter-final spot. He said the squad, staff, and supporters shared that disappointment, but the group has moved to correct what went wrong rather than dwell on it.
With qualification on the line, Tuesday's match is shaping up as one of the most consequential fixtures in Tanzania women's football history.
