The Serengeti Girls of Tanzania have made history by qualifying for the quarter final stage at the on-going FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in India.
Making their debut in the world competition, the Serengeti Girls started their Group D campaign with a 4-0 defeat to Japan before stopping France 2-1 and holding Canada 1-1 today.
Amanda Marie Allen gave Canada the lead from the spot after 14 minutes at the DY Patil Stadium stadium, Mumbai City. But the Serengeti Girls did not give up and continued attacking.
Veronica Gabriel Mapunda leveled matters for Tanzania after 35 minutes. The two teams failed to find more goals in the second half as Tanzania qualified for the knock out stage as the second placed team in Group A with 4 points, while Japan who stopped France 2-0 to win their third straight match topped with nine points.
Bakari Shime, the Serengeti Girls head coach said he was proud of his players who have made history. “We are underdogs in the competition and making it to the knock out stage means a lot,” added Shimes.
Wallace Karia, the Tanzania Football Federation (TFF) President who is also President of the Council of East and Central Africa Football Associations (CECAFA) praised the Serengeti Girls for the hard work. “It is through hard work and determination that you have made it to the next stage,” said Karia while speaking to the team in India.
While another Africans team Morocco bowed out at the group stage, Nigeria also qualified for the quarters after coming out second in Group B.
Tanzania will now face Colombia in a quarter final tie on October 22nd, while Japan battle Spain the same day. Nigeria will line-up against USA and Germany face Brazil in the other quarter final matches to be played on October 21st.
