DRC will arrive in Botswana today to take on the Mares for the first leg of the preliminary round 2026 WAFCON qualifiers to be played at Obed Itani Chilume Stadium. The visitors are taking no chances against the ever improving Mares side ahead of the crucial first leg on Thursday. The team has five players plying their trade in the Europe, in the French leagues to be precise. Paris Saint Germain (PSG)’s winter signing, Merveille Kanjinja is among the main threats in the visitors’ 20-member squad. The 22-year-old’s goal scoring exploits in the 2024 CAF Women’s Championship finals caught the eye of the French giants whist turning up for TP Mazembe. She was among the leading goal scorers with three goals as her former side won their first continental showpiece.
Eight more in the DRC travelling contingent currently ply their trade in the Arab leagues while goalkeeper, Ruth Khonde, is only playing her football in Africa outside the DRC as she is in the books of Colombe in Congo. Despite a host of international experience, the visiting DRC side are on a six game winless streak. The team had lasted tasted victory in December 2023 with a 2-1 home win over Equatorial Guinea. The team has a leak defense with 13 goals conceded in just six games while they scored seven. DRC have proven to be bad travellers as they are winless on the road in 12 outings since September 2023. The Mares’ head coach, Alex Malete, is boosted by the arrival of international based players including, forward, Keitumetse Dithebe and Lone Gaofetoge who join from their bases in Turkey over the weekend. T
eam captain, Sedilame Bosija of Mamelodi Sundowns, joined the team on Sunday from South Africa while club teammate and forward, Refilwe Tholakele was committed as she just returned to training after a four months layoff due to a knee injury. It will be a very first meeting between the two sides as a win in the Thursday tie would boost the Mares’ chances of a third consecutive WAFCON qualification. Kick-off is at 3pm.
