Tanzania made history after securing qualification for the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup for the first time ever, following the Tanzanite Queens dramatic 2-0 victory over Cameroon at the New Amaan Complex in Zanzibar.
The historic result saw them overturn a 1-3 first-leg deficit suffered in Yaoundé on May 2, booking their place on the global stage thanks to the away goal rule in the two-legged qualifier.
Heading into the decisive encounter, Tanzanite Queens faced a difficult task after Cameroon produced a strong display in the first leg at Ahmadou Ahidjo Stadium. The hosts needed nothing less than a 2-0 victory to progress, and the young side delivered under immense pressure in front of their home supporters.
Goals from Mary Aron and Hasnath Ubamba secured the famous win, with Ubamba once again proving to be one of the team’s most influential attacking players throughout the qualification campaign.
The qualification marks a major milestone for Tanzanian football, as Tanzanite Queens become the first East African team to qualify for the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup. They are also only the second Tanzanian women’s national side to reach a FIFA World Cup tournament after the country’s U-17 girls’ team achieved the feat in 2022.
Interestingly, both Tanzanian teams reached the World Cup by eliminating Cameroon, further strengthening the nation’s growing reputation in women’s football on the continent.
Back in 2022, the national team defeated Cameroon 5-1 on aggregate during the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup qualifiers. Tanzania won 4-1 away before sealing qualification with a 1-0 victory at the same New Amaan Complex in Zanzibar. The team later went on to reach the quarterfinals of the tournament held in India.
Tanzanite Queens now join three other African representatives at the upcoming FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup joining Nigeria and Ghana along with fellow finals debutants Benin.
While Ghana will be making their eighth appearance at the tournament and Nigeria their 12th, Tanzania will enter the competition as debutants, continuing a remarkable rise in women’s football and inspiring a new generation of young players across the country and the East African region.
