18 Jun 2023

Gape Mohutsiwa’s goal at the end tail of the first half against Libya’s Mediterranean Knights in an AFCON qualifier was enough to make sure Zebras bagged the maximum three points and moved to the third spot in group J.
Sweet revenge it was for the Zebras, who were spanked by the same score margin by their opponents in Benghazi, Libya last year.

The men’s national team has trailed the group for the longest time since the start of the AFCON qualifiers in June 2022. Botswana have been drawn against Tunisia, Equatorial Guinea and Libya in Group J.

Right from the onset, Coach Mogomotsi Mpote’s lads displayed the grit to win the match played under the floodlights at Francistown’s Obed Itani Chilume Stadium before a capacity crowd that touted the boys throughout the entire duration of the game.

The Zebras took a completely different shape.

They did not give the visitors any room to maneuver as they jammed the middle of the park, defended in numbers and were quick on the ball most of the time.

Attempts by Mediterranean Knights to play long balls were efficiently dealt with by Botswana, which had by now found rhythm although let down by a poor finish. Kabelo Seakanyeng’s blistering pace on the left flank in particular gave Libya’s defence a torrid time.

Seakanyeng’s splitting pass right on the verge of the end of the first half found Gape Mohutsiwa, who slotted a beauty that sent the fans, who were on their toes most of the time, into a wild frenzy.

In the second half of the game, Libya changed their approach and started to play a passing game, but their efforts counted to naught, thanks to the packed defence by the home side.

Botswana seemed content with the one-goal lead and only wanted to catch their opponents on the counter.

At the blow of the final whistle, the Zebras fans burst into the famous Tsaya Thobane o Ba Bolaye in appreciation of the boys good display of football and the end of the streak of losses the team had suffered at the hands of the opponents. Ends