Are the Mares on a descent?

The elimination brought back memories of the past where the team took part to make up the numbers. Since making their international debut in 2002, the Mares had to wait 17 years to reach the semi-finals of international competition.

They did so in 2019 when they reached the last four at the COSAFA Championship but failed to progress to the final. The team went to lose the third-place playoff match and settled for the fourth spot. In the same year, Gaolethoo ‘Ronaldo’ Nkutlwisang’s girls eliminated perennial tormenters, Banyana Banyana from the 2020 Olympic Games qualifiers. It was the team’s first ever victory over the southern neighbours. It was a chilling warning to the rest of Mares rivals heading into the 2019 spring. The Mares were now going up the slope, shedding the ‘weeping girls’ fur.