Nzoyikorera guides Burundi past Botswana in FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup qualifier

Rahay-Roy Nzoyikorera netted a brace to guide Burundi to a 4-1 win against Botswana in the first leg of the second round of the U-17 Women’s World Cup 2024 qualifier.

Burundi took a 3-0 lead in the first half at the National Stadium in Gaborone on Tuesday evening.

Esperance Habonimana gave Burundi the lead, while Nzoyikorera netted two more goals to put the home side on more pressure.

After the break Botswana pulled a goal back through Dilelo Leboyang after 76 minutes. But Burundi’s captain Gloris Gakiza put the icing on the cake with a late goal two minutes into added time.

Burundi can now afford a draw or even defeat by a small margin in the return leg slated for February 9th at the same same stadium to qualify for the third round of the qualifiers.

Ethiopia who beat South Africa 3-0 in the first leg will also be out to finish the job at the Lucas Moripe Stadium in Pretoria on February 10th, while Uganda who drew 1-1 with Cameroon are expected to face a tough hurdle in Yaounde on Friday. Tanzania who lost the first leg 5-0 will host Zambia on February 10th at the Azam Complex.

Djibouti and Kenya already qualified for the third round after their opponents Equatorial Guinea and DR Congo respectively withdrew.

The best three teams that win after the fourth round will qualify to represent Africa at the 2024 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup to take place in the Dominican Republic.