06 Mar 2025

The Botswana under 17 women’s national football team is prepared to give a star-studded Algeria a run for its money in a 2025 U-17 Women’s World Cup qualifier match at the Obed Itani Chilume Stadium in Francistown tomorrow.

Despite that Algeria has about seven players plying their trade in France, the Junior Mares are not shaken and this is what they said:

Keotshepile Kesetse  (midfielder and captain): We have been preparing very well. The coaches have done their part and the onus is on us to execute and deliver what we were drilled to do. The morale is also high in camp and all the players are looking forward to the game. As players we have discussed and we all know the importance of playing well and we hope to finish the game here, so that in Algeria we don’t have a lot of work to do.

Amogelang Sebotho (striker): I think we are ready and we have been preparing well for the clash. We know they are very fast and strong but we are also ready to deal with both their striking and defence departments. The best thing will be for us to use the wings to attack them. We have since established that Algeria is weak on the right and left backs and we are going to use these to our advantage.

Amantle Hambira (goalkeeper): Our mission is to do well against Algeria both home and away and take the winner between South Africa and Nigeria, then qualify for World Cup. We know they are good with aerial balls but we are prepared. We have also been practicing corner kicks and distribution of balls, penalties and one versus one situations.

Hope Lesotlo (midfielder): I managed to watch some of their games’ highlights, and their goalkeeper distributes the balls to the centre back, who then passes to the left back, and they attack in numbers, so what I was taught by the coaches is that I should create passes that are quick and accurate. So generally we are ready for the game. ENDS