The development follows an attack on the team's bus on Sunday. According to a statement from the association, an individual who appeared agitated threw an object believed to be a brick or stone at the team bus before walking away. The statement further states that the individual’s intentions remain unclear. The association, however, says following a thorough assessment by the security team, the person may have mistakenly identified the bus as a public transport vehicle. “It is important to highlight that while the team did not have a police escort to the training session at the time of the incident, they were escorted from the airport to their hotel, where they are safely accommodated. The host association has since assured us that a police escort will be in place for all future team movements leading up to the match,” the statement says.
Earlier yesterday, the BFA chief executive officer (CEO), Mfolo Mfolo, said that his organisation is aware of the war currently ongoing in the DRC and that they are closely monitoring the situation to ensure that the Mares are not harmed. “We are in constant communication with the head of delegation and the football association in the DR Congo. In summary, where we stand the team is safe,” he said. The Mares face a difficult task to turn around a 2-0 defeat in order to proceed to the second preliminary round where Banyana Banyana awaits them. A first half own goal by Turkish based defender, Lone Gaofetoge and a last minute goal by Gloria Mabomba ensured DRC take a comfortable lead ahead of their home tie.
The Mares’ chances of reaching a third consecutive WAFCON finals are holding by thread as the team needs to score two goals without a reply from the home side to at least take the tie to extra time and probably penalty shootout. The local girls would, however, go into the tie with the heads held at high as they boast an impressive away record in the qualification phase of the competition. The team, ahead of their maiden WAFCON qualification, had started their campaign with an away 5-1 win to Angola in the first round of the preliminary round before finishing the job at home with the 2-0 win to make a 7-1 aggregate. The team faced Zimbabwe and won 3-1 in the first leg played away before a nail biting 2-0 home defeat to book the 2022 WAFCON spot with a 3-3 aggregate as the away goal rule came in handy for the local girls. In their 2024 WAFCON qualification run, the team beat Gabon 4-1 away from home before a 6-0 win at home, making it a 10-1 aggregate win, a record high by any national team in the first round of qualifiers.
The team faced Kenya in the second round and played to a 1-1 draw in Nairobi before a 1-0 win at home to book the place at the 2024 WAFCON to be played this July. The Mares have three wins on the road in four outings and a single draw. The team has impressively scored 13 goals in the phase while playing away and conceded a single goal in each of the four away games. The team will need goals, as their tomorrow’s opponents are unbeaten at home since September 2023 in the WAFCON qualifiers.
Head coach Alex Malete has exuded confidence that the Mares will get the job done in DRC after his side-tasted defeat on home soil after the post match interview. The second leg is to be played at Complexe Omnisports Stade des Marts at 5pm local time.
