Mares aim to outfox Algeria
Kabelo Boranabi | Friday July 4, 2025 09:47
The Mares take on Les Fennecs at the Pere Jego Stadium in Morocco at 9pm (Botswana time). The team will aim for a positive start in a bid to enhance their chances of achieving their target of reaching the knockout rounds. The Mares are in Group B of the competition alongside record champions, Nigeria and Tunisia, and win over Algeria on Sunday evening would come in handy for the local girls. The team's head coach, Alex Malete, is of the belief that his side has done their assignment well ahead of the Sunday clash and knows Algeria very well.
On Wednesday, Malete said the team has aligned their training sessions as per their game plan in a bid to outsmart their North African counterparts in the opening game. 'We are only left with three training sessions before we kick start our tournament against Algeria on Sunday. We are looking forward to the game, we have done well in terms of analysing our opponents and in terms of getting statistics, and in terms of getting data matrix about our opponents. They have given us enough in terms of being specific in our training so that we can do what we are doing when the game comes. So, our trainings have been specific to the game plan because of the data we have on Algeria,' said Malete.
The Mares have a clean bill of health ahead of the opener and the squad is aware of the difficulty of making it out of the group stages. Speaking to CAF Media, forward Refilwe Tholakele said the Mares' return to the continental showpiece an improved side and there is not a single drop of fear or doubt within the squad. 'It is clearly a very tough group. We are talking about countries with experience, players competing in top leagues and real traditions in women's football. But for us, it is an opportunity. These kinds of match-ups help us as a team to grow. We respect our opponents, of course but we are not afraid. Since our last participation, we have progressed in every area, mentally, physically, and as a team. This WAFCON is our chance to show what we are really worth,' said Tholakele. The Mares tested their goal-scoring boots in a 14-0 win over local side, Youssfya Berchid. The team faces an organised Algerian backline that is disciplined in keeping shape whilst using the midfield acts as a pivot to deter pressure. The team heavily relies on counter-attacks and the Mares need to also guard against conceding set pieces.