08 Mar 2015

Senior women’s national football team has proceeded to the second round of the All Africa qualifiers, despite losing to Madagascar 1-0 in a game played at the National Stadium on March 6.

The female Zebras advanced with a 3-2 aggregate and  will face Banyana Banyana who are automatically on second round of the qualification phase. Zebras coach, Gaolethoo Nkutlwisang said she was happy with her lteam's performance even if they failed to find the back of the net.

She said her team failed to convert clear cut chances and attributed that to poor decision making while in the box.

Nkutlwisang said the positive thing was that they managed to play as a unit, adding that Madagascar managed to do their assignment well, given that they accomplished their mission of closing down some of her dangerous players.

Regarding the Madagascar’s goal, she said there was lack of communication on the part of her players adding that her charges took long to settle in the game, something, which she said would be corrected at training.

Nevertheless, during the game Batswana girls started the game with guns blazing as they dictated the terms to the visitors.

On the opening minute of the game, the Zebras managed to break Madagascar’s defence and Thuto Ramafifi’s header went wide. On the eighth minute, Zebras continued to knock at Madagascar’s goal post and Boitumelo Gammu managed to set up  Ramafifi whose shot went wide with only the goal keeper to beat.

Zebras’ Boitumelo Gammu who was comfortable on the ball distributed good balls but were put to waste by her team-mates.

On the 14^th minute, Madagascar were awarded a corner kick and Raharimalala Rina-Marie scored straight from the corner to make it 1-0. The Zebras tried hard but could not penetrate their opponents defence since they had resorted to ‘packing the bus’ thus frustrating the local lads and thwarting all their efforts of leveling the score.

The game went into  recess with Madagascar leading 1-0 . After break, the local girls tried hard to move forward but lack of decision making and lack of composure in the box cost them.

Madagascar coach, Rakotomalala Joharinirina said the Zebras played well, despite that they failed to attain their objective of the day of scoring goals. He said Zebras were a tough opponent, because they played long balls, and that alone helped  them to open his defence.

“Botswana has a good team in particular the lady who was wearing jersey 11 (Thuso Ramafifi),” he said.  ENDS