06 Jun 2024

Battle lines have been drawn as the senior national football team, Zebras play against The Cranes of Uganda in a 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification clash to be played at the over 45 000-seater Mandela National Stadium in Kampala, Uganda today. 

The East African country has over time proved to be a hard nut to crack for the Zebras. On paper they are the favourite as they are ranked 92^nd in the world while the Zebras are at 146. 

In the AFCON qualifiers in 2015 and 2016, The Cranes won back to back, beating the Zebras 2-0 and 2-1 respectively. And today it will be a different ball game as the Zebras are thirsty for success. 

However in their quest to make history and qualify for the World Cup for the first time in history, they must get maximum points against Uganda.

Botswana is in Group G, which contains Algeria, Guinea, Uganda, Mozambique and Somalia. 

Atop the group is Algeria with six points while Botswana, Guinea, Uganda and Mozambique have three points each and Somalia with zero point, which plays Botswana on Monday. 

Botswana has already played two games and defeated Guinea courtesy of Kabelo Seakanyeng’s 79^th minute strike and lost 2-3 to Mozambique. 

And a win for the Zebras in today’s game will make a huge difference depending on how other teams play. 

Difficult as it may,  coach Didier Gomes Da Rosa and the players are well aware what a win could do in their quest for their world cup qualification. 

Botswana has a formidable side and according to Da Rosa players were all ready for selection, and he will be spoilt for choice as he has crème de la crème of defenders to choose from. 

Some of the defenders who have travelled with the team and the nation pins its hope on are Tanzania-based Benson Mangolo, Mosha Gaolaolwe, South Africa-based Thatayaone Ditlhokwe and Motsholetsi Sikele. 

From the attacking department, the Zebras has players who are prepared anytime to fight for the badge, amongst them Morroco-based players; Tumisang Orebonye, who plays for ASFAR-Rabat and Kabelo Seakanyeng of OC-Khourigba Morocco. 

There is also the local league top goal scorer, Thabang Sesinyi, who has proven to be a lethal striker and Molaodi Tlhalefang, who is also one of the players expected to give Uganda a hard time

The Cranes coach, Paul Put, also did not leave anything to chance as he has assembled a formidable side to play against the Zebras. 

At the goal post he has the tried and tested goal minder, Ismail Watenga, who plays for a South Africa side Golden Arrows and the Zebras should closely guard one of The Cranes deadly midfielder, Ibrahim Kasule, who also plays for New York Redbulls. ENDS