Zebras in tough Tunisia test

The head coach of the Botswana national football team, Mogomotsi Mpote recently described the upcoming African Cup of Nations qualifiers match against Tunisia this coming weekend as more than just a routine fixture. In his words, the game is an opportunity to gauge the team's progress and readiness for the African World Cup qualifiers in November 2023. He said that they are focusing on a long-term development and a proactive approach to building a strong national team.

Despite no chance of qualifying for the AFCON finals, the Zebras are determined to put up a good fight and build on their previous performances. Their victory over Libya was a significant milestone, and the draw against

Tunisia in the previous match indicates that they are capable of competing against formidable opponents. Mpote said that he expects the team to enter the Tunisia match with a fierce determination to win, even though their fate in the tournament has already been sealed.

“Our approach to this campaign has been strategic. Our goal is to use these matches as preparation for our upcoming World Cup qualifiers, and the match against Tunisia is a critical part of that process. We will evaluate our performance to identify areas for improvement and strengthen our team,” he said. “Every match count in our pursuit of success. Nevertheless, the experience gained from this campaign will be invaluable as we prepare for future challenges on the international stage,” Mpote added.

Coach emphasized the importance of having a balanced team, combining both junior and senior players to create depth and versatility. He further stated that the team's training and practice sessions have been effective in developing their skills, but now it's a matter of seeing if the players can effectively apply what they have learned on the field. “Our strategic approach prioritizes an offensive style of play, where we strive to create scoring opportunities and pressure the opposition. Our transitions are seamless, and we work diligently to keep that intensity high throughout the match. We are an aggressive and assertive team, with a strong focus on attacking play therefore we are going there to score goals,” he mentioned.

He noted that the team has arrived safely in Tunisia and the atmosphere in the camp is positive. The players are eager to take on the challenge of the upcoming match and are in high spirits as they prepare for the game. “Our aim in this match is to play with aggression and go on the offensive. Given that Tunisia is a formidable opponent with a strong reputation, they may be inclined to play defensively. However, our strategy is to take advantage of this by pressing forward and applying pressure. We believe this will give us an edge over our opponent and enable us to score more goals,” Mpote stated.