Zebras look to outfox Algeria
Kabelo Boranabi | Friday March 21, 2025 10:46
This afternoon at 3pm, the Zebras will take on Group G leaders, Algeria in a potentially campaign-defining match to be played at the Obed Itani Chilume Stadium. The Desert Foxes arrived in Botswana complaining about the 3pm kick-off and the heat, with the Zebras looking to pounce. A win for the local lads will take the Zebras level on points with Algeria and their group would be further defined by the results of an encounter between Mozambique and Uganda played yesterday evening.
The Zebras are having the best start in this phase in more than a decade with two wins and two losses in the first four games of the qualifiers. It is a tight battle as from the six teams, only one will secure a World Cup berth. The team is closing in on the 12-point high in the World Cup qualifiers last achieved during the Stan Tshosane era. Head Coach, Morena Ramoreboli, would hope to shift the 2025 AFCON qualifiers' form to the battle for the World Cup places. The team is unbeaten and also winless in the two games under Ramoreboli. The South Africa native is eyeing his first win this afternoon but it is a mountain high task against group favourites, Algeria. The Zebras have not won against a North African opponent in the World Cup qualification phase. The team lost 1-0 to Morocco and a heavy 3-1 defeat to Tunisia between 2004 and 2005. Two decades later, the team has transitioned from the 'Whipping Boys' to a team to reckon with. The Zebras boast an incredible home run in recent times as they have lost once in the last five encounters.
Three wins, one loss and a draw is a fair but worrisome run for the technical team. The Zebra are without their scoring boots with just three goals scored in the five home games whilst the team has conceded six with only two clean sheets. In his pre-match press conference, Ramoreboli said preparations for the tie have proceeded well, but is wary of Algeria's threat on the transition. 'They have scored a lot of goals from transition and crosses. We need to manage all the aspects,' Ramoreboli told journalists yesterday. He urged his boys to be brave and and confident against the former African champions. 'I encourage the players to give a performance, that days and years after, Batswana will still remember,' he added. The visitors have shown discontent about the kick-off time. As per the media reports, a number of Algerian players are currently observing Ramadan and the visiting delegation has since questioned the 3pm kick off time. 'The match is at 2pm and yes, that is unusual. The temperature there will be high, but it will be the same for both of us. We will do our best to push these external challenges aside and focus on ourselves,' said Desert Foxes' head coach, Vladimir Petkovic.
The Swiss tactician, however, is cautious as he feels the Zebras are the hungrier side ahead of the tie. 'We respect our opponents. For Botswana it is a decisive, complicated match. They too must give their all to get back on track and get closer to the World Cup. We have to win, and that will make it easier to win the next match,' said Petkovic as quoted by Afrik Foot online publication.
Match facts Venue: Obed Itani Chilume Stadium Capacity: 26,000 Kick Off: 3pm Ticket Prices: Grand Stand (P50), Panda Stand (P30), and North and South Stands (P20) Weather conditions: Mostly sunny with zero chance of rain. Humidity is 50% whilst the wind speed is expected at 14km/h.