World Cup berth at stake as Mares take on Morocco

The nation will learn the team's fate around midnight as the Mares face Morocco in a 2022 Women's Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) quarterfinal tie at the Prince Moulay Abdellah stadium. A win against the hosts will hand the local girls a WAFCON semi-final spot, which will also see Botswana qualify for the World Cup next year. History beckons for the team that has against odds, reached the WAFCON knockout round in their debut appearance.

The Mares squeezed through into the last eight after finishing among the group stages, third-placed teams. The team lost two of their three group stage matches after debuting in the competition with a morale-boosting 4-2 win over Burundi. The local women have not found the back of the net since the win. There is a lot at stake with a bigger field to graze on, as the Mares are playing for the biggest prize in their run in the tournament thus far; a WAFCON semi-final spot and a World Cup berth. However, the team is in for a stern test against Morocco.