The Zebras beat Angola 3-1 in the preliminary final of Group C after both sides played to a goalless draw in regulation time. Captain Marumo was the hero when he blocked two penalties to ensure that the Zebras reached the next round of the competition. The BDF XI thwarted Belmiro Pereira and Mateus Alberto to send thousands of supporters inside the National Stadium into wild celebrations. Angola's Fernando Costa's effort came off the upright while Yamba Joao is the only player to have beaten Marumo. Last year in the same venue and the same stage, Marumo was the hero when he saved a penalty from Siboniso Gaxa of South Africa to book the Zebras a first ever semi-final place in the regional tournament. The Zebras went on to lose 1-0 away to Zambia before a packed Independence Stadium. Yesterday, the Zebras converted their penalties through Diphetogo Selolwane, substitute Malepa Bolelang and Tshepo Motlhabankwe. Selolwane was later voted man of the match and went home with R2,000. Botswana will now join Mozambique, South Africa and holders Zambia in the semi-finals. They will wait for the draw to be conducted in Johannesburg on August 16.
After the game, a delighted Zebras' coach Colwyn Rowe said that their plan for Angola worked. He said he was happy to have guided the team to the semis. "We tried to stop them from playing the ball. We knew they were effective when it comes to crosses. Against Lesotho, they relied more on crosses and that's why they won the game," he said. Rowe feels the Zebras could have scored from the chances they created. For the final, the coach relegated strikers Pontsho Moloi and Onalethata Tshekiso to the bench. The duo started the game against Namibia on Saturday and got good chances that they failed to bury. Against Angola, Rowe relied on Selolwane and Thato Siska to get the goals but all their efforts went to waste. Siska had the most share of chances but he was let down by his finishing. Considering that he has just come out of a long lay-off, he played well and deserves another run in the national team.
