Zebras to ride the ‘thunder’ in AFCON clash in Guinea
The Senior National football team, the Zebras will have to pull all the stops to register their first win of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations Qualifiers campaign.
They take on Equatorial Guinea this Friday at Nuevo Estadio Malabo, with the return leg coming four days later at Obed Itani Chilume Stadium in Francistown.
Rooted at the bottom of Group J with a single point after two games, Mpote’s charges need a good result away to get their campaign back on track.
Zebras fought bravely against The Carthage Eagles of Tunisia in June last year to get a valuable point after losing 1-0 away to Libya.
They now have to be at their very best against Nzalang Nacional (National Thunder) of Guinea to increase their prospects of qualifying for the finals in Ivory Coast next year.
AFCON 2023 has been postponed to 2024 over weather concerns, and would now be hosted in January and February, instead of the usual June/July months.
Only two teams per group qualify to compete at Africa’s biggest football spectacle, and Mpote will have to silence the thunder in this two legged tie to claim a seat at African football’s table of royalty.
Tunisia lead the group with four points, while both Guinea and Libya are on three points each.
The Zebras spent a week training at one of Morocco’s High Performance Centre, plotting against the central African state.
Mpote will take solace in the knowledge that their Friday opponents conceded four goals in a 4-0 thrashing at the hands of Tunisia.
He’ll hope that his team boasting of a fierce strike force led by Algeria based Tumisang Orebonye and Gaborone United’s Thero Setsile will be able to exploit the porous backline in front of thousands of cheering EquatoGuineans.
National Thunder are however no push overs, as they defeated Libya 2-0, and will be looking forward to rumble on against their Southern African opponents.
Mpote will have to call on his trusted and experienced fighters to quell the storm and ride the thunder, to give the national team a fighting chance in the return leg.
Key players in the squad.
Goitseone Phoko – The Gaborone United shot stopper has been very consistent for his side in the domestic league despite his club’s recent decline of form.
Phoko who’s shed a few kilos is a trusted lieutenant and he’ll be ready to help the team to secure a victory and most importantly keeping a clean sheet.
Thatayaone Ditlhokwe- As captain of the team, he will definitely be the pillar in Zebras defense with his international experience.
For sometime, he has been one of the outstanding players in the national team setup and Mpote will be counting on him to lead by example.
Mothusi Cooper-Arguably the best box-to-box midfielder in Botswana, he will be pulling the strings in the middle of the pitch to help the team in defense and attack.
Mini Cooper who had a stint in Morocco can be good as anyone on a good day.
Kabelo Seakanyeng- With his energy, skill and ability to take defenders head on from the wing. He’ll definitely be a thorn in Guinea’s defense.
Seakanyeng’s direct play is what is needed to relief pressure from defence.
He’s a good outlet for Mpote’s team.
Tumisang Orebonye-A natural number nine he will be expected to turn small opportunities into goals.
The USM Alger player is a seasoned campaigner who’s playing in the CAF Confederations Cup.
His goal for the national team is long overdue.
The match will be live on Supersport Variety 3.
Kickoff is 2045hrs.
