Pawa pawa: Passaris, Murkomen banter Tanzania after crashing out of CHAN
By Mustafa Juma, August 23, 2025Kenyan leaders have taken to social media to poke fun at Tanzania following their elimination from the African Nations Championship (CHAN) 2024 at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Dar es Salaam on Friday, August 22, 2025.
Morocco edged out the Taifa Stars in a tense quarter-final clash that ended 1-0, leaving Tanzanian fans heartbroken and their East African neighbours with room for banter.
Nairobi Woman Representative Esther Passaris led the charge, mocking Tanzania’s performance with a cheeky post on X (formerly Twitter), quoting Tanzanian music star Mbosso’s Pawa hit lyrics.
“Pawa pawa… naishiwa pawa!” Majirani zetu wa Tanzania wamejikuta wakikosa nguvu kabisa mbele ya Morocco. Viumbe dhaifu walioshindwa kufika penalty! Simba kageuzwa paka. Majirani hoyee? Upepo wa bahari unawapelekaje?” Passaris stated.
Her remarks, laced with humour, drew mixed reactions online, with some Kenyans joining in the banter while others cautioned against mocking fellow East Africans.
Murkomen’s banter
Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen also joined the conversation, posting a more subtle jibe via his official X account.
“Pole Jirani. Tuko pamoja kwa msimu huu!” Murkomen stated.
His message, though seemingly sympathetic, carried an undertone of playful rivalry.
The two leaders’ comments have since gone viral, reigniting the Kenya–Tanzania football banter that has become a hallmark of regional sports rivalry.
Tanzania’s CHAN elimination
Tanzania’s elimination now leaves Morocco, who were clinical in their display, advancing to the CHAN semi-finals as the Taifa Stars turn their focus to future competitions.
The tightly contested encounter on Friday, August 22, 2025, saw both sides struggle to break the deadlock in the opening hour, with chances coming few and far between.
Tanzania, buoyed by a strong fan base, home-ground advantage, and a spirited run in the tournament, matched Morocco in intensity, registering 11 shots compared to their opponents’ nine, though only two found the target.
The decisive moment arrived in the 65th minute when Morocco’s Oussama Lamlioui pounced to score the only goal of the match.
His strike shifted the momentum, forcing Tanzania to chase the game for the remainder of the contest.
Kenya’s journey at the African Nations Championship (CHAN) competition also came to an end on Friday, August 22, 2025, after a narrow defeat to Madagascar in the penalty shootout, a match that kept fans across the country on edge until the final whistle at Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani.