Botswana head coach Alex Malete has vowed to exploit any weaknesses in the Super Falcons’ game when the two sides meet in their crucial Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) Group B clash on Thursday.
The Mares, who suffered a narrow 1-0 defeat to Algeria in their opening match, face a daunting task against tournament favourites Nigeria in their second group game. A second consecutive loss could severely dent their hopes of advancing to the knockout stages.
The Super Falcons, on the other hand, began their campaign impressively with a commanding 3-0 victory over Tunisia. Goals from Asisat Oshoala, Rinsola Babajide, and Chinwendu Ihezuo secured the win, while Esther Okoronkwo was named Player of the Match for her outstanding second-half performance.
Botswana were without two key players — Lone Gaofetoge and Nandi Mahlasela — in their opener, as both were serving suspensions carried over from the qualifiers. A return to the squad will serve as morale booster to the team.
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Speaking ahead of Thursday’s clash, Malete urged his players to remain calm and focused, emphasizing the importance of capitalizing on Nigeria’s vulnerabilities.
“We have to be calm and not desperate when we face Nigeria,” Malete told SABC Sport. “We have to be able to express ourselves in terms of things that we do well. Look at Nigeria as well and see what they do well and see what they struggle with and do our best to use that to our advantage.”
Despite the setback against Algeria, Malete expressed satisfaction with the atmosphere in camp, highlighting the team’s unity and positive mindset as key strengths.
“What I’m most happy about is the positivity, the spirit, and the unity within the camp,” he said. “It’s this environment that will give us the best chance to progress to the next round.
“We have a very positive group. They’ve been impressive since we started preparations, and we’re looking forward to the next match. We will do everything possible to ensure we qualify for the knockout stage.
“Defeat to Algeria, I have to say we paid a heavy price for not starting the game well. Defensively and more especially in other moments we should have imposed ourselves, we didn’t,” he added.
A win for the Super Falcons on Thursday at the Stade El Arbi Zaouli in Casablanca would see them secure a place in the quarterfinals with a game to spare.
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