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Zebras Must Impose Its Presence

Apr 20, 2022

The African Football governing body CAF on Tuesday conducted the draw for the 2023 Total Energies African Cup of Nations(AFCON) qualifiers, which will see 48 teams battle it out for the 23 spots at the show peace to be staged in Ivory Cost.

The Zebras have been slotted in group J alongside world cup bound Tunisia and 2012 AFCON co-host Equatorial Guinea who appeared at the 2021 show peace in Cameron and Libya who like the Zebras have missed out on the last edition .

Zebras care taker coach Mogomotsi Mpote has highlighted that his charges will fight to top the group “In this group, we must hold our own weight and structure as a team we must respect our opponents and have no fear for them . We have two teams that just returned from the 2021 AFCON, we have an idea of who they are or what they are about as a collective and we will now start preparing for them. Libya like us have not been to AFCON but are a very good team they have traditionally been a very difficult customer .Their players play mostly in Europe which tells you they have quality as a team .”

“We will leave no stone unturned, we have a dynamic team at the moment, the boys I called into the last international window are determined. As a group we need to work together for each other. We are not going to make the numbers, we will impose ourselves and forget African football hierarchy if ever there was such.’’

The 2023 AFCON qualifiers will start in June 2022 with countries playing Match day 1and 2 in the FIFA window, the Zebras will play one match at home and one way in the period.

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Botswana and Algeria Strengthen Sports Ties, with Football Development in Focus

Francistown, Botswana – The Honourable Minister of Sport & Arts, Mr. Jacob Kelebeng, recently welcomed a courtesy visit from Honourable Walid Sadi, Algeria’s Minister of Youth & Sports, along with His Excellency Ambassador Abdelmalek Tigharhar of Algeria.

The discussions centered on fostering collaboration between the two nations in sports development, with particular emphasis on Paralympics, football, boxing, and athletics. This engagement presents valuable opportunities for Botswana to benefit from Algeria’s advanced sporting infrastructure, training programs, and technical expertise.

As part of the visit, Honourable Sadi also met with BFA President Mr. Tariq Babitseng, alongside Minister Kelebeng. Discussions highlighted Algeria’s well-established football development structures, coaching programs, and talent identification pathways, which could serve as a benchmark for Botswana’s football growth strategy.

BFA President Emphasizes Football Development

Speaking on the significance of the engagement, BFA President Mr. Tariq Babitseng expressed enthusiasm about the partnership, noting that Botswana stands to gain valuable insights from Algeria’s football model.

“Football development remains a key priority for the BFA, and this engagement allows us to benchmark against one of Africa’s leading football nations. Algeria’s structured approach to grassroots football, coaching development, and high-performance training presents a great learning opportunity for Botswana. We are excited about the potential collaborations that will enhance our football structures and elevate the sport in the country,” said Babitseng.

The Minister was accompanied by Permanent Secretary Ms. Nancy Chengeta of the Ministry of Sport & Arts (MOSA), along with key sports leadership figures, including:

✅ BNSC Chairperson: Mr. Marumo Morule

✅ BNSC CEO: Mr. Tuelo D. Serufho

✅ BNSC Executive Management

✅ Botswana Football Association (BFA) Executives

✅ Various dignitaries and stakeholders

The BFA remains committed to building strategic international partnerships that contribute to the growth, professionalization, and long-term sustainability of football in Botswana.