06 Feb 2024

 The Botswana Under 17 National Women’s Football Team suffered a 4-1 defeat to Burundi in the first leg of the second round of the FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup Qualification Africa 2024 at the National Stadium yesterday.

Burundi showed their true intentions of winning from onset as they started the game at a high tempo pressing the local girls in pursuit for an early goal, a move that evidently unsettled The Young Mares, but lack of communication inside the box was Burundi’s own undoing. 

Burundi almost opened the scored sheet in the 11^th minute, after a defensive blunder by The Young Mares, but Rahay Roy-Nzoyikorera strike was denied by the woodwork.

In the 22^nd minute of the game, Botswana had a glorious opportunity to score, but left with only the goalkeeper to beat, Amogelang Sebotho ballooned the ball. Burundi took the lead through Esperance Habonimana after the visitors were awarded a free kick in the 34^th minute and they extended the lead in the 43^rd minute through Nzoyikorera, who also scored the third goal before going for a recess.

In an effort to search for a goal, Botswana coach Jacqueline Gaobinelwe introduced three players, Agreement Moroka, Keitumetse Tamocha and Sarah Papataso after break.

 The changes breathed life into The Young Mares as they started making some runs looking for a goal, but they were unlucky as most of their attempt went wide.  However in the 78^th minute The Young Mares launched an attack that resulted in Lebogang Dilelo pulling one making it 3-1.

Burundi continued to expose Botswana’s defence and in the referee additional time and captain Gloris Gakiza netted the fourth and final goal of the day. Former The Mares captain, Bonang Mosetlha, who was watching the game, said The Young Mares lost it on the defence and that the team was also not competing for the ball.

 Furthermore, she said the team could not even complete two passes and were left wanting positional wise.

“But we can’t be hard on them. They are a development side and in the absence of school sport, we need to organise camps for them so that they get used to each other,” she said.   The two sides will meet again on Friday for the second leg in a game to be played at the National tadium. Ends