27 Sep 2023

The Botswana senior women’s football team, The Mares have made it to the final WAFCON qualification round after thrashing Gabon 6-0 in a return leg clash played at Lobatse Sports Complex on Tuesday.

The half a dozen goals came courtesy of Gaonyadiwe Ontlametse’s brace, Lesego Radiakanyo, Nancy Baeletsi, Keitumetse Dithebe and Lone Gaofetoge.

On aggregate, The Mares won 10-1 after winning the first leg encounter 4-1 in Gabon.

The Mares will now play a two-legged fixture against the Harambee Starlets of Kenya and the winner will qualify for WAFCON 2024 in Morocco.

Team captain, Sedilame Bosija said in an interview that they were all looking forward to their encounter against Kenya, as they know that beating them would once again afford them the opportunity to play in the biggest women’s football tournament in Africa.

She said they were motivated and ready for the clash against the East Africans to show the doubting Thomases that their first qualification was not a fluke.

She said they planed to score even more goals against Kenya and to keep a clean sheet.

Refilwe ‘Seven’ Tholakele said their win against Gabon was water under the bridge as their focus was on their fixture against Kenya.

She said after qualifying for the last edition they wanted to qualify again, and that they would work hard to achieve their goal.

Mares coach, Mohambi Saulosi said there were areas that needed to be improved before facing the Harambee Starlets. He said his players needed to be more precise and clinical in their passes. Ends