Dylan Bettencourt
The Botswana national women’s team are looking to make history by qualifying for the Fifa World Cup for the very first time.
The Southern African team made their debut at the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (Wafcon) this month – but they are not satisfied just yet.
Botswana progressed as one of the two best-placed third place teams in the group stage and now face the uphill task of facing hosts Morocco.
However, if the team wants to make history they will have to beat the in-form Morocco team on Wednesday night.
Qualifying for the final four of the competition guarantees them a spot at the Fifa World Cup.
Veteran defender Bonang Otlhagile believes her side can make it to the showpiece in Australia and New Zealand scheduled for next year.
“We are very happy and we are willing to work hard because we still want to appear in the World Cup for the first time,” the 35-year-old told BBC Sport Africa.
“Everything we are doing this time around is going to be for the first time, and we’ve told ourselves that we are going to be the history-maker.”
Botswana started their campaign off in perfect fashion, defeating Burundi 4-2. They then lost their next two fixtures against Nigeria and South Africa.
Despite only winning one game thus far, Botswana coach Gaoletlhoo Nkutlwisang believes they can cause an upset.
“It’s about preparing well and coming up with a good plan by sitting down with the technical team and analysing the Moroccans – where they’re strong, and where they’re weak – so that we can capitalise on their weaknesses,” the coach said.
“Hopefully, when we face Morocco, maybe some of our players will get scouted and move abroad.”
90 minutes now stand in the way of the Botswana side making history. But even if they lose on Wednesday, the dream could still be alive.
Two beaten Wafcon quarter-finalists will enter a 10-team intercontinental play-off to decide the final three qualifiers.
Image source: @CompleteSportsNigeria
