The Mares' WAFCON 2024 qualification fate will be decided in Gaborone after the team played to a 1-1 draw against Kenya this afternoon.
The Mares carry a slight advantage ahead of the second leg scheduled for Tuesday courtesy of the away goal rule. The Kenyan crowd did not come out in numbers at the Nyayo National Stadium to watch an evenly contested match between the Mares and the Harambee Starlets. From absorbing early attacks from the home side, the Mares found their rhythm mid-way through the first half and eventually went ahead through Gaborone United's Keitumetse Dithebe's strike in the 37th minute.
The home side responded with a minute to the break from a penalty kick. Nothing separated the two teams at the break. Harambee Starlets responded with sustained attacks from the start of the second half and late on the home side were awarded a penalty but Sedilame Bosija guessed right to keep it 1-1. Mares kept it tight at the back to secure a draw away from home ahead of an 'all to play for' second tie next week.
