10 Feb 2024

Batswana’s dream to make an initial appearance at the world cup was shattered after the women’s national under 17 team, bowed out of the FIFA under 17 world cup qualifiers with a 2 -0 loss to Burundi at the National Stadium on Friday.

The women’s teams became the nation’s ray of hope, following the senior team’s qualification for the WAFCON for the second consecutive time. Burundi defeated the young Mares 4-1 in the first leg on Tuesday, and some football pundits had hoped the local side would redeem their pride and turn the tables around.

However, Burundi demonstrated that their first victory was not by fluke, as they dominated the game from the first whistle.

In the fifth minute Burundi’s Esperance Habonimana unleashed a shot from the 18th area but goalkeeper Amochilani Ntwakgolo managed to deal with it. On the ninth minute, Botswana could have opened the score sheet but Keitumetse Tamocha failed to utilise the golden scoring opportunity, after she was only with the goalkeeper to beat.

However, the Young Mares did not ball watch, as they piled pressure and moved forward, but lack of composure in the box cost them.

But in the 22nd minute a defence error by the Young Mares gave their opponents a chance to score their first goal courtesy of Adolphine Rumuri.

The visitors continued with their attacks but in the 35th minute the Young Mares defenders and goalkeeper were forced to deal with Rahay Nzoyikorera who did not shoot once but several times, but managed clearing the dangerous balls.

The game went to break with Burundi leading 1-0, and three minutes after the break Nzoyikorera rectified her 35th mistake with a thunderbolt dress room goal to extend her team’s lead to 2-0.

As the game progressed it was evident that Burundi had an upper hand over Botswana, but the Young Mares managed to keep marauding Burundi at bay, because if they failed to defend, the visitors could have scored an avalanche of goals.

The game ended with 2-0 margin, meaning Burundi has won with 6-1 aggregate. ENDS Batswana’s dream to make an initial appearance at the world cup was shattered after the women’s national under 17 team, bowed out of the FIFA under 17 world cup qualifiers with a 2 -0 loss to Burundi at the National Stadium on Friday.

The women’s teams became the nation’s ray of hope, following the senior team’s qualification for the WAFCON for the second consecutive time.

Burundi defeated the young Mares 4-1 in the first leg on Tuesday, and some football pundits had hoped the local side would redeem their pride and turn the tables around. However, Burundi demonstrated that their first victory was not by fluke, as they dominated the game from the first whistle.

In the fifth minute Burundi’s Esperance Habonimana unleashed a shot from the 18th area but goalkeeper Amochilani Ntwakgolo managed to deal with it. On the ninth minute, Botswana could have opened the score sheet but Keitumetse Tamocha failed to utilise the golden scoring opportunity, after she was only with the goalkeeper to beat.

However, the Young Mares did not ball watch, as they piled pressure and moved forward, but lack of composure in the box cost them. But in the 22nd minute a defence error by the Young Mares gave their opponents a chance to score their first goal courtesy of Adolphine Rumuri.

The visitors continued with their attacks but in the 35th minute the Young Mares defenders and goalkeeper were forced to deal with Rahay Nzoyikorera who did not shoot once but several times, but managed clearing the dangerous balls.

The game went to break with Burundi leading 1-0, and three minutes after the break Nzoyikorera rectified her 35th mistake with a thunderbolt dress room goal to extend her team’s lead to 2-0.

As the game progressed it was evident that Burundi had an upper hand over Botswana, but the Young Mares managed to keep marauding Burundi at bay, because if they failed to defend, the visitors could have scored an avalanche of goals.

The game ended with 2-0 margin, meaning Burundi has won with 6-1 aggregate. ENDS