Mares wither despite local league’s bloom

Friday, October 16, 2026 | 10 Views |

Where to? The Mares face uncomfortable questions PIC: KENNEDY RAMOKONE

The local women's football has grown in numbers, stature and investment over the past decade, but the Mares are seemingly losing their stride on the international stage.

Whilst the domestic game has graduated from regional competitions to a multimillion-pula national league, the senior national team, the Mares, has in recent years failed to qualify for two major tournaments, whilst the regional title, the COSAFA Women's Championship, remains elusive. This raises uncomfortable questions about whether the expansion is producing the desired results on the international stage.

The Mares have missed out on the 2026 Women's Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) and the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games, with their latest disappointment coming in a humiliating 7-0 aggregate defeat to Tanzania this week.

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