Mpote bemoans missed Zebras chances
Chakalisa Dube | Monday June 6, 2022 16:00
Mpote will hope that the draw will help the Zebras get back their qualifying campaign back on track after they lost their first match against Lybia last Wednesday. “I think we played well because we managed to close the left side which they use more often to launch their attacks. We could have taken one or two chances. We created chances but we lacked aggression upfront. It is something we have to work on going forward. We were a bit wasteful,” said Mpote in a post-match interview adding that the Zebras will have to ensure that they become ruthless at home if they want to qualify for the 2023 AFCON edition billed for Ivory Coast.
Tunisia started the match on a fairly good note. They tested the Zebras goalkeeper, Goitseone Phoko several times inside the first 15 minutes. They could have at least scored a goal (in the first 15 minutes) had it not been for Gaborone United goalkeeper, Phoko. He twice denied Mohammed Arbi on the ninth and 11th minute respectively. In the first instance, Phoko had to come out of the posts to avert the danger.
On the second occasion he superbly dealt with Arbi’s glancing header. Arbi would also count himself unlucky not have given his side the opener in the 23rd minute after his well taken shot from within the edge of the box hit the cross bar with the goalkeeper looking well beaten. Zebras came close to finding the opener in the 25th minute when forward Tumisang Orebonye’s close header was acrobatically blocked by the visitors’ goalie Bechir Said after a telling cross from defender Mothusi Johnson. Kabelo Seakanyeng’s follow up ball was also deflected for a corner by a Tunisian defender. It was an evenly contested encounter after the 30th minute.
Zebras enjoyed a few neat exchanges and did go forward on several occasions although they were less threatening than their opponents. Defender Billal Ifa’s header from a corner just before the end of the first stanza went inches wide after he was left unchecked.
The only thing that emerged from the first half on the part of the Zebras is that they managed to keep dangerous forward Naim Sliti silent. Sliti starred against Equatorial Guinea last Thursday scoring a brace and creating another goal in a match the Carthage Eagles won 4-0 at home. The Zebras emerged the better side from the break. Overall, in the second half Mpote’s side had more of the ball, and dictated the flow of the match.
The only challenge is that they could not break the stubborn Tunisia defence and were wasteful in some instances. The players also showed a thorough understanding amongst each other. Midfielder Mothusi Cooper was unlucky not to find the decisive opener for the Zebras in the 68th minute when his shot from range went inches over the bar after being set up by Jwaneng Galaxy forward Thabang Sesinyi. Ten minutes later, defensive midfielder Lebogang Ditsile would squander another opportunity to put the Zebras ahead when his ball from inside the box went wide. Substitute Gofaone Mabaya could also have scored for the Zebras in the 87th minute but delayed shooting before he was eventually closed down by defenders. Zebras defended very deep in the last five minutes something that nearly exposed them. Sliti could have given Tunisia the lead in the 89th but his well taken shot inside the goal area hit the cross bar. Still in Group J, second placed Libya were to play Equatorial Guinea, away later today (Monday).
The Teams: The Zebras : Goitseone Phoko, Alphord Velaphi, Mothusi Johnson, Mosha Gaolalwe, Lebogang Ditsile, Mpho Kgaswane (Gofaone Mabaya) Mothusi, Kabelo Seakanyeng (Thatayaone Kgamanyane), Tumisang Orebonye, Thero Setsile (Thabang Sesinyi) Tunisia: Bechir Said, Bilel Ifa, Montassar Talib, Ali Elabdi, Mohammed Arbi, Ali Maaloul, AissaLaidoni, Mohammed Romdhane (Anis Slimani), Issam Jebali (Ferjani Sassi), Seifeddine Jaziri, Naim Sliti
Zebras 0 Tunisia 0