As part of preparations for their maiden TotalEnergies Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, the Botswana Women’s National Team has lined up two friendly international matches.
They will first tackle Uganda on Saturday, 25 June followed by the match against Togo four days later (Wednesday, 29 June).
Both clashes will be played in Marrakech, Morocco.
The Mares are already in the North Africa to finalise preparations for the 2022 WAFCON which runs from 2-23 July.
They have been drawn in Group C alongside neighbours South Africa, Nigeria and fellow debutants Burundi.
On the first of July, the Botswana Senior Women’s National Team will relocate to base in Rabat, one of the host cities of the tournament along with Casablanca.
The squad left for North Africa on Sunday afternoon (19 June) and had a breather in Marrakech on Tuesday to recharge their batteries after the long travel before they got down to business.
Head coach Goaletlhoo Nkutlwisang has named her final squad of 24 players for the tournament, which included four overseas-based players – Sedilame Boseja (Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies, South Africa), Esalenna Galekhutle (Tyler Junior College, USA), Thuto Ramafifi (Albany State University, USA) and Mokgabo Thanda (Yasa Queens, Zambia).
Botswana will start the tournament high on confidence after they eliminated Zambia from the qualifiers of WAFCON, and also have a history with South Africa, where they knocked them out in the qualifiers of the 2020 Olympics.
It will be the battle of the debutants when The Mares open their campaign in Morocco with a clash against Burundi on July 4, while South Africa will lock horns with Nigeria in the other Group C match on the same day.
“We thank God that we arrived here safely and we are trying to play two to three international friendly games as we are trying to adapt to the weather and see what few things we can do in our final match because this is our last preparation going into the tournament,” said the head coach to Botswana Media from Morocco.
“Our international players arrived late so now we need to emphasize as to how we are going to play. Being here is an opportunity for all the players and I think they are going to push themselves so that they find teams because there will be too many scouts, so for every player its going to be great to play here. But our focus is on the main tournament as we are playing on the fourth, so we are doing everything before the start – our analysts came up with all the information, including details of Burundi whom we don’t know much about. We are not undermining any team, but we are determined that we can do it.”
Botswana 2022 WAFCON Squad
Goalkeepers:
Sedilame Boseja
Lesego Moeng
Merylin John
Defenders:
Bonang Otlhagile
Masego Montsho
Kesegofetse Mochawe
Veronicah Mogotsi
Nancy Baeletsi
Laone Moloi
Lone Gaofetoge
Midfielders:
Golebaone Selebatso
Mokgabo Thanda
Annah Sechane
Leano Atang Busang
Keitumetse Dithebe
Lesego Radiakanyo
Balotlhanyi Johannes
Strikers:
Thuto Ramafiki
Refilwe Tholakele
Esalenna Galekhutle
Michelle Abueng
Nondi Mahlasela
Ontlametse Gainyadiwe
By Matlhomola Morake
