06 Oct 2024

The senior national football team, Zebras, left for Cape Verde today where they will enter a lion’s den when they come face to face with the hosts in a Group C AFCON 2025 qualifiers clash.

The two will clash in Cape Verde on Thursday and then in a home tie at the Obed Itani Chilume Stadium in Francistown on October 15.

The Zebras, who sit at the bottom of Group C, are yet to register a victory.

They have lost to Mauritania and Egypt in the previous two games.

Cape Verde, who are in position two in the log, have beaten Mauritania and lost to Egypt.  So the hosts will be motivated to go for the jugular when they meet the Zebras.

In an interview, Zebras captain, Thatayaone ‘TT’ Ditlhokwe, said he was not happy with the team’s preparations ahead of the crucial clash.

He said they did not have a full local training camp due to the ongoing FNB Premiership League. Ditlhokwe said a week-long training camp could have given the team enough time to prepare, more so that most players were locally based.

Inadequate preparations, he said, would always make things tough for the team. The captain, however, said despite losing two games, they were still hopeful that they could turn the corner in Cape Verde.

“Our aim is to go out there and fight. A win will definitely motivate the team,” he said.

For his part, head coach, Didier Gomes Da Rosa, said due to the ongoing league, it was almost impossible to organise a full local training camp, something which he said had potential to affect the team. Furthermore, he said time to prepare the team was short, adding they would arrive in Cape Verde on Tuesday then play on Thursday.

The coach said he would be banking on his players because they were committed and aware that this would be a game to win.

“The bad news is that we will not be travelling with Thatayaone Kgamanyane and Mpho Kgaswane who sustained injuries during the Gaborone derby,” Da Rosa said. ENDS