11 Sep 2024

The senior national team, Zebras suffered a 4-0 defeat at the hands of one of Africa’s football powerhouses, the Pharaohs of Egypt in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier played at the Obed Itani Chilume Stadium in Francistown on Tuesday.

The defeat, was the second successive for the home side, currently languishing at the tail end of Group C while the Pharaohs are perched at the top of the group having won their first two matches.

Perhaps travel logistical challenges that delayed the Zebras return from Mauritania could be blamed for the team’s poor showing, especially in the first stanza of the encounter.

The team was sluggish, wasteful, and ball shy, giving the opponents an upper hand to launch an attack.

The strong Egyptian side that included skipper Mohamed Salah took advantage of the Zebras conundrum and instantly stamped their authority at the blow of the first whistle.

Egypt drew first blood in the 5^th minute of the first half through Mahmoud Ahmed after Zebras goalkeeper Goitseone Phoko parried Mohamed Salah’s shot.

The Egyptians who played their usual passing game enjoyed a lot of possession and tried to open up their opponents who packed the bus. Phoko, who was the busiest of the two goalkeepers, made numerous important saves to save the face of the homeside before the Egyptians cracked the defence of the fidgety and jet-lagged Botswana side again through Mahmoud Ahmed.

Rare brilliant displays by the Zebras, often times in a comatose state, did not threaten; the visitors went into the break leading 2-0.

However, the home side had a surge of energy, purpose, and a sense of urgency in the second half of the duel. They had a few attempts that either blasted over the bar or shot wide at goal. 

The Zebras surge was short-lived as Mohamed Salah tapped into the Zebras empty net in the 56^th minute following a counterattack by his side to increase and solidify the win. The Zebras started to blow hot and cold. In the 76th minute, Gape Mohutsiwa’s snapping header did not bear any fruit as the ball went right into the hands of the Egyptian goalkeeper Mohamed Elsayed. Many attempts at goal by the home side to redeem themselves before home crowd were futile.

The  last nail on the coffin that shuttered the hopes of the Zebras fans in the dying minutes of the game came through Mostafa Mohamed, who easily tapped into the homeside empty net to ensure an emphatic 4-0 win.

Zebras next matches will be against Cape Verde, home and away, while Egypt will face off with Mauritania when the qualifiers resume in October 2024.  Ends