Zebras on course to make history

MQONDISI DUBE
Staff Writer | Friday August 13, 2010 00:00

 

On Wednesday, the Zebras entered a stadium named after the late Malawian dictator, Kamuzu Banda in Blantyre as underdogs against Malawi but emerged unscathed after a credible 1-1 draw. The performance underlined the national team's growing reputation in the qualifiers and the road to Equatorial Guinea and Gabon looks clear.

The result means the Zebras unbeaten record in the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations is still intact.  Coach, Stanley Tshosane touched down at the Sir Seretse Khama International Airport with his pedigree fortified after doubts were cast on his ability before the start of what is turning out to be a fruitful campaign. The tactician will be forgiven for walking with an air of bravado after his charges tightened their grip on Group 11. Although the Zebras dropped their first points and conceded for the first time since the qualifiers started, Tshosane will be pleased with the point earned in foreign territory.

The Zebras were not far from another win over Malawi after taking the lead in the 65th minute. However, the hosts equalised 10 minutes later to steal their second point of the qualifiers after their 2-2 draw away to Togo last month. Three more points will all but take the Zebras to their first ever African Cup of Nations finals and qualification will be sweeter if achieved under a local coach.

Successive foreign coaches have tried but failed to qualify the Zebras for any major tournament but underrated Tshosane is on course to make history. If the Zebras snatch two victories in their remaining five matches, they will have done enough to make it to Equatorial Guinea and Gabon, depending on how their group rivals perform.

As Tshosane warned, the journey is still long but the Zebras are arguably in their best ever position to qualify.Botswana is left with home matches against Tunisia, Malawi and Togo. They will look to wrap up qualification with at least six points from their five matches. The two away matches will be in Togo and Chad.

The Zebras have managed to chalk important wins without star players, Mogogi Gabanamong, Dirang Moloi and at times Boitumelo Mafoko. This is evidence of depth. After collecting seven points from three outings, the Zebras sit pretty at the top, four points ahead of nearest rivals, Tunisia who returned to winning ways with a 3-1 thumping of Chad in N'Djamena on Wednesday.

The point the national side snatched in Malawi might prove decisive. If the Flames had won, they would have moved within two points of the Zebras. Coupled with a Tunisia victory, this would have thrown the race wide open.

But as it stands, the Zebras firmly have their fate in their own hands.

A favourable result for the Zebras will be a Togo loss to Tunisia and Malawi faltering against Chad. This will leave the Zebras and Tunisia as front-runners in the race for the two berths on offer in the group. The Zebras' next assignment is against Togo on the weekend of September 3-5 in Gaborone. On the same weekend, Tunisia will host Malawi in Tunis.