The two teams have traversed different terrains with each coming through a daunting task to set a perfect date in Morocco next year. The two senior national teams have secured places in the premier continental competitions in their respective gender groups, with Morocco hosting both competitions in 2025. It is a moment to savour for the local fraternity as for the first ever time, the two teams will be competing in the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) and the Africa Cup of Nations respectively. The two teams are par as they will both make only their second appearances at the continental showpiece.
The Mares will be the first to take a seat at the reserved table against the backdrop of the Atlas Mountains in the 2024 WAFCON finals. The competition was to be played this year but was postponed to 2025. The team will be playing in their second consecutive WAFCON after making its debut in the 2022 edition. It was rather a short but demanding route for the team to secure a place amongst Africa’s best 12 teams. Mares had only four games between them and a place in the African spectacle. The team was drawn against minnows, Gabon in the first round of qualifiers and went on to record the biggest aggregate win by any national team locally. The Mares beat Gabon 4-1 away, which was their biggest away win. The team finished the job at home in the Lobatse Sports Complex with a 6-0 win. The team was drawn against a continental powerhouse in women's football, Kenya. It was a hard-fought 1-1 draw away in Nairobi as team captain and goalkeeper, Sedilame Bosija, had to deny Kenya twice from the spot in the tie. Ahead of the home game at the National Stadium, Mares needed just a goalless draw to sail through on the away goal rule. Keitumetse Dithebe’s goal proved the difference as the team managed to absorb sustained pressure from the visitors to claim a 1-0 and 2-1 over two legs. Bosija once again came with the clutch as she saved a third penalty kick from Kenya in two games to ensure the home team squeezed into the WAFCON finals. Despite a low-scoring return, Botswana had one of the best defensive records in the qualification phase conceding just twice. The squad, like the Zebras, had to overcome technical changes made through the qualification phase as Mohambi Saulos, appointed on an interim basis, had to make way for Alex Malete. The latter was the assistant coach at the 2022 finals and was in charge of the final two games whilst Saulos left the team after the Gabon tie. Their male counterparts, the Zebras camp was also disturbed after technical team changes midway through the qualifiers. French tactician, Didier Gomes Da Rosa, left the Zebras hot seat for a club job in Libya. He had got the team’s qualification hopes back on track after home and away wins over Cape Verde. Zebras had lost the first two games away to Mauritania and at home to Egypt. Ahead of the last two games and following the departure of Da Rosa, South African coach, Morena Ramoreboli was roped in.
The Jwaneng Galaxy mentor had to secure a home win over visiting Mauritania before a tougher ask away to Egypt in the qualifiers' final match. Zebras were unable to beat Mauritania at the Obed Itani Chilume Stadium and had to avoid a defeat against the Pharaohs of Egypt. It was a difficult task for the team that had lost 4-0 to Egypt at home whilst also having to rely on Cape Verde who had been already eliminated. It was a good start for the local boys as Omaatla Kebatho put the team ahead as early as the eighth minute but the home side responded just eight minutes later through a Mahmoud Trezeguet strike. The local fans across the country endured a nail-biting 74 minutes of regulation time as they watched their troops wither an all-out attack from the Pharaohs. Zebras hardly ever troubled Egypt over the 90 minutes but were resolute at the back. At the final whistle, the country went into a frenzy as Zebras returned to the continental showpiece after 12 years. Botswana is now amongst a special group of nations that will be playing in the two competitions next year. Only 11 nations will be playing in the two competitions and they include the hosts Morocco, Algeria, South Africa, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Zambia, Nigeria, Tanzania, Mali, Tunisia and Senegal. Mares and Zebras will learn their respective group stages opponents in separate draws next year.
