Over the weekend, the Mares continued their preparations with a 2-1 win over visiting Lesotho in an international friendly game played at the Royal Aria Stadium. Malete led the Mares to the continental showpiece finals late last year and the tournament was to be played in the winter period.
The 2024 Olympics have since disrupted CAF's schedule and the 2024 WAFCON could be set for late this year or early 2025. Malete told the journalists after the game that the Mares had initially prepared for a July held tournament but had also anticipated any possibilities.
The tactician also said the team will need to play much stronger opponents ahead of the WAFCON finals. "It is always easier when you know when you are going to play but for now we anticipate November. It is not confirmed and initially when we made our plan, we said if we play in July, this how our camp will be. I have to say the BFA have done well to support the plan, every activity we had from the start of the year until today. If you play top level teams, it gives you an idea in terms of the players you have called in (to camp) and how many spots you are going to give to the new players," Malete said.
The Mares had the grip of the game from the first whistle as on the 11th minute Leungo Senwelo had a chance at goal but laid for Gaonyadiwe Ontlametse whose attempt went over the bar. The team had a number of chances from Kesegofetse Mochawe's free kick attempts.
The local girls broke the deadlock on the 35th minute as Laone Moloi met Lesego Radiakanyo's cross to open her Mares' account. The Mares led by a goal at the break. Four minutes into the second half, substitute Keitumetse Dithebe was brought down in the box. She dusted herself off to send the goalkeeper the wrong way to make it 2-0 for the Mares. Radiakanyo was presented a glorious chance with only the goalkeeper to beat but she sent her attempt over the bar on the 71st minute. Two minutes later, substitute goalkeeper, Bame Mokime gifted Lesotho a goal as Tholoana Ts'oaeli slotted into the empty net. The crossbar denied Nancy Baeletsi on the 83rd minute as the Mares settled for a lower margin.
The teams
Botswana: Tlamelo Pheresi (Bame Mokime), Lorato Motlogelwa, Kesegofetse Mochawe, Mokgabo Thanda (Boitumelo Gammu), Lone Gaofetoge, Nancy Baeletsi, Gaonyadiwe Ontlametse (Obonetse Rathari), Laone Moloi (Keitumetse Dithebe), Leungo Senwelo (Atlang Busang), Michelle Abueng (Jessica Modise), Lesego Radiakanyo
Lesotho: Thuto Maifo, Moseme Khashane, Ts'oanelo Leboka, Ntsoaki Molefi, Thato Mapepesa, Mosele Pita, Moleboheng Moloi (Nteboheleng Ramatsoku), Reitumetse Namane, Makhotso Moalosi, Lerato Mphou, Phuzile Molefe (Tholoana Ts'oaeli)
Botswana 2 (Moloi 35th, Dithebe 49th) Lesotho 1 (Ts'oaeli 73rd)
