19 Jun 2022

The senior women national football team coach has selected a 24-member squad that will represent Botswana at the 2022 Africa Women Cup of Nations (AWCON) to be held in Morocco July 2-23

Briefing the media on Friday, coach Gaoletlhoo Nkutwisang said she had selected a formidable squad that would represent the country with pride.

“We selected players to make the final team looking at their strength. We also took into consideration the teams that they will be playing against during the competition,” she said.

Botswana is pitted in Group C with South Africa, Nigeria and Burundi, the teams which Nkutlwisang deemed too physical.

However, she was confident that the players would do their best in all their matches.

“We believe in our team. We have been building it for a very long time and we believe in our players. The technical team already had a conversation with the selected players to be mindful of the fact that they were going to compete, not to participate. If we don’t perform well, that will probably be due to some external factors which may be beyond my control,” she said.

Sending off the team, Minister of Youth, Gender, Sport and Culture, Tumiso Rakgare, said Batswana acknowledged the difficult circumstances that the players and the team management had to endure to qualify for AWCON.

“Many thanks to sponsors who came on board. It is their intervention that created the motivation and the self-belief, which the team needed for its maiden qualification,” Rakgare said.

He was also confident the DTC Botswana sponsorship which was launched last year played a major role in ensuring that Botswana qualified.

The squad comprises Lesego Moeng, Marylin John (BDF XI) and Sedilame Bosija (Mamelodi Sundowns) in the goalkeeping department.

Defenders: Bonang Otlhagile, Veronicah Mogotsi (Double Action), Masego Montsho (BDF XI), Kesegofetse Mochawe, Nancy Baeletsi (Prisons) and Lone Gaofetoge.

Mid-fielders: Golebaone Selebatso, Nondi Mahlasela (Prisons) Annah Sechane (Township Rollers), Mokgabo Thanda (Yasa Queens, Zambia), Keitumetse Dithebe (Mexican Girls) and Balotlhanyi Johannes (Double Action).

Strikers: Lesego Radiakanyo, Ontlametse Gaonyadiwe (Double Action), Thuto Ramafifi, Esalenna Galekhutle (USA), Refilwe Tlholakele (Township Rollers) and Michelle Abueng (BDF XI). Ends