Botswana women soccer team confident to qualify for All Africa Games

Botswana's national women soccer team fancy their chances of qualifying for the 2015 All Africa Games following a convincing 3-1 away win over Madagascar in the past weekend.

Speaking to the media on Wednesday following the team's return to Botswana, coach Galetlhoo Nkutlwisang said they are very confident to progress to the next stage of the qualifiers and qualify for the continental games that are played in the Olympic format.

She commended her team for a great away win, saying they defied many odds to get the win that put them at a great advantage going into the second leg.

According to Nkutlwisang, Botswana won the match in a waterlogged pitch at Mahamasina Municipal Stadium. "We wanted to keep the ball and play a passing game but the conditions there did not allow us to do that. We ended up relying on long balls playing counterattacks. I am very happy at the way the girls adapted under the tough conditions," she said.

She said despite carrying a big advantage of three away goals, they are not going to rest on their laurels for the second leg match. "We can't afford to relax now, this is football and we know anything can happen, therefore we are going to keep working hard," said the coach. [ Nkutlwisang attributed the team's good performance to vigorous preparations they have been doing over the last two months when the team got in camp. For her part, team captain Bonang Otlhagile pleaded with the nation to rally behind the team in their quest to qualify for the All Africa Games.

She said they need all the support they can get to go all the way and qualify.

The team has never qualified for the All Africa Games before. Endi