Well travel to Aberdeen looking for a third successive victory over the Dons this afternoon.
06:00, 09 Nov 2025
Watt says Motherwell need to kill teams off when they're dominating games
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Tawanda Maswanhise has hit top gear at Motherwell - and is already dreaming of leaving Mo Salah in his wake at next month’s Africa Cup of Nations.
The flying winger is leading goalscorer at Fir Park this season with nine in 17 games and is gearing up for Zimbabwe’s return to the competition which kicks off with a clash against Egypt.
It’s a proper David v Goliath clash between Maswanhise’s Warriors - 350/1 long shots to lift the silverware for the first time - and the highly-fancied seven-time champions.
But the 22-year-old is relishing the challenge and hoping to dethrone ‘Egyptian King’ Salah who struck his 250th Liverpool goal last weekend.
Before then Zimbabwe have two friendlies in the upcoming international break against Algeria and Qatar.
And Maswanhise knows he needs to continue his red hot form for the Steelmen to have any chance of making his big AFCON bow against the Anfield icon.
Ahead of this afternoon’s clash with Aberdeen, he said: “Confidence wise I'm feeling at the top right now.
“Whenever I get in those areas in the final third I feel 100 per cent sure that I'm going to score or hit the target.
“AFCON is massive in Africa, obviously there's going to be a lot of people watching across Europe so I want to do my best and show my talent.
“It’s going to be my first one so hopefully it's a good experience. We play Egypt in the first game on December 22. That's what I'm there for, playing against the top players, that's what you want to be around.
“Hopefully I can make a name for myself when I'm playing against players like Salah.
“I would say I watch more left wingers than right wingers - but Salah is very good.
“You've got to keep the excitement inside you and focus on your game, that's what football is about.
“Hopefully I can outperform him - but it's going to take quite a lot.
“That first game of the tournament, you understand how big it is and how much talent there is on show.
“It would be a great way to do it if we can win that game.
“We’re going there as underdogs, and no-one knows what to expect from us. But if we do show up then everything will be good.
“Hopefully we can get the right amount of points to get through the group and then obviously that's when the competition really starts.”
Former Leicester City kid Maswanhise has flourished in Jens Berthel Askou’s bold attacking system.
He hit the 50 games mark last month and is keen to keep repaying the club for giving him the platform to realise his international dreams.
He said: “Every time I step on that pitch, whether it's at Fir Park or away, I just try and give my best and leave a mark.
“I'm getting there, the more games I play the more confidence I get. The gaffer trusts me.
“We've got our style of play and belief in ourselves. Top six is 100 per cent there for us and then obviously Europe. Try and sneak in a good win if we do get top six.”
The winger knows he owes dad Jeffrey - a sprinter for Zimbabwe at the 1998 and 2002 Commonwealth Games - for the blistering pace which has left Premiership defenders eating dust.
But he admits he’s not even the quickest at Fir Park. Maswanhise said: “It’s probably Regan Charles-Cook, he's quite quick.
Motherwell regularly dominate games and take the lead, but only have one league win so far this season
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“I know dad’s really happy for me, I’ve got to keep making him proud. He’s quite harsh on every game I play.
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“Sometimes I just nod my head, but when he speaks, I do listen. He knows the highs and lows.
“I was way too young to have seen him competition but there are a few videos, he does look quick.
“I’m proud of him too. Obviously I'm going to achieve more, and it's just going to come at the right time.”