Africa: Match Facts - Algeria, Botswana Clash in Group B Showdown in Casablanca

4 July 2025
Confederation of African Football (Egypt)

Algeria take on Botswana in their opening Group B match at the TotalEnergies Women's Africa Cup of Nations, Morocco 2024. The match is scheduled for Sunday at the Père Jégo Stadium in Casablanca (kick-off 20:00 local time / 19:00 GMT).

Algeria begin their sixth appearance at the WAFCON with a first-ever finals meeting against Botswana, who are competing in their second tournament. This is Algeria's third match at the finals against a team from Southern Africa, having previously faced South Africa twice--in 2006 and 2014--losing 4-0 and 5-1 respectively.

This also marks the second time Algeria open their campaign against a Southern African opponent, the first being that 4-0 loss to South Africa in 2006.

Botswana's only previous match against a North African team came in the 2022 quarterfinals, where they lost 2-1 to hosts Morocco. Sanaa Mssoudy gave Morocco an early lead, Keitumetse Dithebe equalised after seven minutes, but Yasmin M'rabet sealed the win for Morocco in the second half.

Keep up with the latest headlines on WhatsApp | LinkedIn

Algeria - Key Facts

  • Algeria first qualified for the WAFCON in 2004, returning in 2006, 2010, 2014, and 2018. They missed the 2022 edition.
  • They have qualified for every alternate edition since 2006.
  • Algeria are aiming to reach the knockout stages for the first time.
  • This is the first time they are participating in a WAFCON hosted in North Africa.
  • Algeria's opening match record at the finals: P5 W1 L4.
  • Their only opening-game win came in 2014--a 1-0 victory over Ghana.
  • They've lost their last five WAFCON matches since that 2014 win.
  • Algeria have opened their campaign against Ghana three times--more than any other opponent.
  • In total, they've played 15 WAFCON games (W2 D1 L12), all in the group stage.
  • Algeria have never been involved in a goalless draw at the tournament.
  • Their only draw came in 2006--a 3-3 result against Equatorial Guinea after leading 2-1.
  • At the 2018 finals, Algeria lost all three group matches: 1-0 to Ghana, 3-0 to Cameroon, and 3-2 to Mali after leading.
  • They've scored first in five WAFCON matches but won only two (vs Mali in 2004, Ghana in 2014).
  • Algeria qualified for Morocco 2024 by beating Uganda 3-2 on aggregate in the first round, and Burundi 6-1 in the second. Inès Boutaleb scored a hat-trick in the 5-1 first-leg win over Burundi and the winner in the second leg.
  • Only three players from their 2018 squad are in Morocco: Morgane Belkhiter, Imane Chebel, and Inès Boutaleb. Chebel and Boutaleb played in their final group game in 2018; Belkhiter was an unused sub.
  • In 2018, Belkhiter featured in two matches, Boutaleb played once, and Chebel started all three.

Botswana - Key Facts

  • Botswana reached the quarterfinals in their debut tournament in 2022 and now return for a second appearance.
  • This is the first time either Botswana's men's or women's senior teams have qualified for back-to-back AFCON or WAFCON tournaments. The men previously appeared in 2012 and will return in 2025.
  • Botswana started their 2022 campaign with a 4-2 win over Burundi, with Keitumetse Dithebe scoring their first goal.
  • They lost their next four matches: 2-0 to Nigeria, 1-0 to South Africa, 2-1 to Morocco in the quarterfinals, and 1-0 to Cameroon in a 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup playoff.
  • Botswana are yet to keep a clean sheet at WAFCON.
  • All five of their WAFCON matches have produced a result (W1 L4).
  • Three of their four defeats have been by a one-goal margin. The 2-0 loss to Nigeria is their heaviest.
  • In 2022, all their matches were played in Rabat; this time they are based in Casablanca.
  • Seventeen players from their 2022 squad are part of the current team.
  • Ten players featured in all five matches in 2022; seven started all five.
  • Current squad members Sedilame Boseja, Esalenna Galekhutle, Lone Gaofetoge, Kesegofetse Mochawe, Veronicah Mogotsi, Masego Montsho, Lesego Radiakanyo, Mokgabo Thanda, and Refilwe Tholakele all featured in every game in 2022.
  • Tholakele and Dithebe were Botswana's joint top scorers at the last tournament with two goals each. Tholakele also provided one assist.
  • Dithebe played in four matches at the 2022 finals.
  • Botswana qualified for Morocco 2024 by defeating Gabon 10-1 on aggregate (4-1 away, 6-0 at home) in the first round. Six different players scored, with Radiakanyo and Gaonyadiwe Ontlametse netting multiple times.
  • In the second round, Botswana drew 1-1 away and won 1-0 at home against Kenya. Dithebe scored both goals.

Read the original article on CAF.

Tagged:
Copyright © 2025 Confederation of African Football. All rights reserved. Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media (allAfrica.com). To contact the copyright holder directly for corrections — or for permission to republish or make other authorized use of this material, click here.

AllAfrica publishes around 500 reports a day from more than 120 news organizations and over 500 other institutions and individuals, representing a diversity of positions on every topic. We publish news and views ranging from vigorous opponents of governments to government publications and spokespersons. Publishers named above each report are responsible for their own content, which AllAfrica does not have the legal right to edit or correct.

Articles and commentaries that identify allAfrica.com as the publisher are produced or commissioned by AllAfrica. To address comments or complaints, please Contact us.