Tanzania asks team to shift focus on beating Kenya’s Rising Starlets after Nairobi defeat
Tanzania Football Federation acting Secretary General Oscar Mirambo has rallied the team to shift their attention to overturning the slim defeat suffered against Kenya in the return leg battle against Rising Starlets, slated for Saturday, February 14, 2026, in Tanzania
Speaking on Saturday, February 7, 2026, after the team’s 1-0 defeat to Kenya in the first leg in Nairobi, Mirambo urged the ladies not to dwell on the defeat.
Winning return tie
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“The result we got is not important. What is important is how we interpret our games and what we do between now and the time we have until that date on the 14th. We have a new tie on the 14th of February; let’s shift our energies to winning that tie and qualifying for the next rounds. After we reach home, we will start preparing for the tie,’ he said.
Mirambo also expressed the federation’s commitment to support the team and enable them to post positive results going forward.
As a federation, we have the task of enabling you to play. We will continue to ensure that happens, and I urge that you stick to what your teachers instruct you,” he told the team.
His remarks come after Bakari Shime, the U20 coach, also warned Kenya against being carried away after the slim victory.
Speaking to the press after the game, Shime cautioned that the tie remains far from done as Kenya next heads to Chamazi Complex on Saturday, February 14, 2026.
Far from done
“This tie is not done. We targeted to draw or lose with a slim margin. We are going to Chamazi. A goal loss is a small margin for my team. We are going to overturn this clash and claim a positive result,” he stated.
Shime also accused Kenya of deliberately choosing to host their FIFA World Cup Qualifiers on a poor pitch to disadvantage her team.
According to the tactician, the uneven surface denied her girls the opportunity to play their preferred way and at their levels.
Poor playing surface
“Kenya has better pitches, but they chose to bring us here. In my view, we didn’t lose the match fairly. They knew exactly what they were doing. This pitch is very poor. My team did not play to their levels because of the condition of the pitch,” he stated.
