28 Jan 2025

Senior national team, The Zebras will this December head back to the continental soccer showpiece, Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco after over a decade of absence to compete.

Responding to different media houses in Rabat, Morocco after the draw on Monday night, Zebras coach, Morena Ramoreboli said that they gladly accepted the tag of an underdog as most people viewed the Zebras, but indicated that such would not prevent them from punching beyond the tagline.

“We will accept that we are underdogs, but we will do our best to perform beyond that tag. We need to leave a mark at AFCON 2025. The goal is to perform well and achieve positive results. Success would mean being remembered as one of the teams that competed fiercely and represented Botswana with pride,” he said.

Ramoreboli also said that they were ready to compete against each of their opponent. 

“This is a tournament featuring the top 24 teams on the continent, Botswana included. That in itself shows we deserve to be here. We are ready for anyone, and while it might sound bold, I believe we should focus on ourselves and not worry too much about the opposition,” he said.

He said he was confident with the material  in the team, but would have to mentally psych and instil belief in the players that they could perform against everybody. Ramoreboli said all players still had an equal chance to make the squad, provided they display consistency in their performance as well as discipline and respect for the country.

He said the platform was a chance to restore the history of 2012 when the country made its maiden appearance at AFCON.

This year marks only the second time in history that the country will rub shoulders with the top teams in the game. 

The Zebras were pitted against West African giants, Senegal as well as the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Benin. Most football enthusiasts indicated after the draw that the group was in, was the fairest that the nation could have asked for. 

CAF accredited senior coach instructor, Phillimon Makwengwe indicated that focusing too much on the opposition would be a grave mistake.

“I agree that it is a very fair group to be honest, but who we have been drawn against should not be an issue because that might lull us into poor preparations in anticipation of easier competition. What matters at this stage is the level of preparations we do,” he advised.

He said part of the preparations should be mentally preparing the players to have self-belief, and support the coach and give him all the resources that he needs, including financing training camps outsides if he requires them.

“Batswana should also own the team and not leave everything in the hands of government. We should open a trust account and contribute for the team if the need arises,” he said.

Concerning the group itself, Makwengwe indicated that Senegal were no longer the superpowers that they used to be due to political and economic turmoil, and that the country can also equally hold their own against the DRC and Benin.

He also said Botswana should take motivation in the fact that smaller nations had often sprung surprises at major tournaments. 

Makwengwe also said for the future, the country should start not only grooming players, but young coaches as well.

Football analyst, Jimmy George said that the group was promising to be an intriguing and challenging outing. 

“While the draw could have been more difficult, it is far from a walk in the park, and we can expect some tough battles ahead,” he said.

He said Senegal, champions in 2021 coupled with their impressive depth, a wealth of experience, and a revival under new coach Pape Thiaw were favourites in the group.

“After the disappointment of their last outing, they will be eager to make their mark and prove their dominance once again. DRC is also a team brimming with talent, confidence, and youthful exuberance and with key players like Yoane Wissa, Gaël Kakuta, and captain Chancel Mbemba, the Sébastien Serge Louis Desabre-coached side has the ability to upset anyone on their day,” he said.

On Benin, George said although they may not have the pedigree of some of the tournament’s heavyweights, they certainly possessed enough experience and quality to cause a major upset.

“Benin’s unique record is a testament to their resilience; they became the first national team in AFCON history to reach the quarter-finals without winning a single match in the tournament. This intriguing achievement speaks to their ability to defy expectations and turn up when it matters most,” he said.

 Further, he said the appointment of German coach Gernot Rohr, who famously led Nigeria to the 2018 World Cup adds an experienced tactical mind to their setup. ENDS