27 Jun 2022

The senior women national football team, The Mares, will play the Sparrowhawks of Togo in an international friendly tomorrow.

The Mares will use the clash, slated for Grande Stade de Marrakech, to prepare for the Africa Women’s Cup of Nations (WAFCON) tournament.

The tournament is billed for Morocco July 2-23, where Botswana is in Group C with Burundi, Nigeria and South Africa. The Sparrowhawks are expected to give The Mares good practice.

Botswana’s assistant coach, Alex Malete, said in an interview that the robust Togo players would bring physicality into the match, something which would enable The Mares to prepare for Nigeria.

He said Botswana had never faced a team that played with Nigeria’s intensity, adding Togo friendly would help them to know what to expect.

Malete said the friendly game would also help them prepare the players mentally.  He said Burundi, who would be their first assignment in the continental showpiece, were in the same level with Zimbabwe.

Meanwhile, the assistant coach said The Mares on Saturday played against Moroccan side Naja Souss.

Botswana won 7-0, courtesy of Esalenna Galekhutle, Thuto Ramafifi, Balotlhanyi Johannes, Refilwe Tholakelo’s brace, Atlang Busang and Michelle Abueng. He said they were supposed to play Uganda, but unfortunately the latter had visa issues.

He said the main aim of Saturday’s game was to analyse some areas, adding the technical team was happy since the players applied themselves well.

“All our goals were manufactured from the tactical approach without the ball and beside we scored seven goals, which also gave our players confidence.  We were able to play the ball out to build from the back and into midfield and the last third,” he said.

“During the game, there were chances that we let slip and should we do that in the tournament, we will be punished, so we still need to work more on our finishing,” he said. ENDS