Zebras targets World Cup Qualifiers
The Botswana men's national football team, affectionately known as the Zebras, put on a resilient performance against Eswatini in their last preparatory match. Despite a challenging match, the Zebras managed to come away with a 2-1 victory. The match was close throughout, but the Zebras eventually pulled ahead in the second half with some well-timed substitutions and tactical changes.
The boys' performance in the first half was very strong, with a focus on attacking play. They showed that they are making progress as a team by managing to beat a side that recently drew with South Africa. This match was their last chance to prepare before the start of the upcoming World Cup qualifiers next month, and they will need to play at the same level if they are to have a successful campaign.
In their last AFCON qualifiers match against Tunisia, the Zebras was poor especially in their offensive play, they struggled to create attacking opportunities. Whereas against Eswatini they showed great improvement in this area. Gilbert Baruti, Gape Mohutsiwa, and Kutlwelo Mpolokang were instrumental in linking the midfield and attack, which helped the team to achieve the desired outcome. This is something that the coach had been hoping to achieve, and it is very encouraging to see the team making progress in this area.
The head coach Mogomotsi Mpote was visibly delighted with the team's performance, stating that it was clear that the work they had been putting in during training was paying off. He emphasized his belief in an attacking approach to the game, saying that this was a key part of his coaching philosophy. The sense of pride and satisfaction he felt was clear to see.
He believes that the team's improvement against Eswatini can be attributed to the start of the local league season. He stated that the physical and mental preparation that players get from playing in the local league is invaluable, and that the team's victory is evidence of this. He also said that their improved performance in the AFCON qualifiers shows that they are now ready to compete at a higher level.
'We've struggled with creativity in the past, but this game showed a clear improvement in that area. All of our players contributed positively, and everyone was involved in the attacking play. I've always stressed the importance of this to the team, and it's great to see it finally paying off. The first phase of our attack played really well, and the link-up play between our players was really impressive,” he said.
Mpote stated that the win and the good performance in the match was a huge boost for the team going into the World Cup qualifiers. The positives of the match were noted, and the team is now aware of the areas that still need improvement. This will help them to prepare and improve further as they continue their journey.
The Zebras' World Cup qualifiers campaign begins on November 18th, with a match against Mozambique, followed by a game against Guinea on November 21st. The Eswatini match was the last in the FIFA window before the qualifiers. 'We are extremely pleased that we managed to play this final match, as it has given us a good indication of the areas we need to work on. Going forward, we are excited and optimistic about the World Cup qualifiers.
As a country, we have set clear goals, and we are determined to achieve them,” He stated.