Botswana Coach Alex Malete has spoken out after watching his team fall painfully short against the Super Falcons of Nigeria.
In a dramatic clash that kept fans on edge until the final whistle, the Mares conceded a heartbreaking goal in the 90th minute, losing 1-0 in their Women’s Africa Cup of Nations Group B match, Footballrover reports.
Botswana Coach Malete Defends Painful Defeat
Despite the defeat, Coach Malete praised his team’s fighting spirit.
He said that the Mares showed true character against the mighty Super Falcons, who have won the competition nine times.
“We deserved more; we deserved to get a point. It was all about showing the spirit we have in the team, and we have also shown a lot of quality,” Malete told reporters with clear emotion.
The Mares started with a solid defensive plan, hoping to surprise the Nigerian team on the counterattack.
They managed two shots on target before halftime but were overwhelmed by the Falcons’ attacking power in the second half.
Super Falcons Win Leaves Botswana Boss Hopeful
The young coach also defended his tactics, insisting his approach was the right one.
“We take the positive, even though it was a painful loss. It was an opportunity for us to go through to the quarter-finals. When we came here, we all had the ambition of making it to the next round and will stay positive following today’s performance,” he said.
Malete added that each match needed a different plan: teams must study their rivals, look for weaknesses, and adapt.
He believes the lessons learnt from facing the Super Falcons will help Botswana’s Mares grow stronger.
“It is something we can build on, and in terms of playing our next game, we are condemned to win, and we will win, I’m sure,” he declared, promising better days ahead for Botswana football.
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