The Botswana Zebras needs to at least draw when they host Malawi in June to secure automatic passage to their maiden appearance in the Orange Africa Cup of Nations.
Botswana’s fan where in a frenzy of euphoria when they piped their Chadian hosts 1-0 in Ndjamena on Saturday. However celebrating their qualification for the Nations Cup was premature.
That is because the other Group K tie between Malawi and the visiting Togolese in Blantyre was still in progress. The outcome of that match had a bearing on the Group standings.
Going into the match Togo was out of the running to top the group and secure automatic qualification to the Nations Cup. However they had a very slim chance of finish runners up and thereby vying for one of the top three runners up spots to the Nations Cup.
Perhaps that is why the Togo Football Federation romped in Nigerian coach Stephen Keshi. Against all expectations Keshi guided Togo’s Hawks to qualify for the 2006 FIFA World Cup.
This time Hawks last roll of the dice seem not to have taken into account Malawi’s track record at their fortress Chichiri Stadium in Blantyre. In recent years reigning and past Nations Cup champions Egypt, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Tunisia have all left Chichiri Stadium humbled.
As it turned out on Saturday night, Malawi emerged victors by their usual score line 1-0. That ended the Hawks remote chance of a 2012 Nation Cup qualifier. The Hawks will next host Botswana before travelling to Tunisia. Those matches will largely be about playing for national pride.
For the record Botswana are still in pole position to top the group and thereby secure automatic passage to the 2012 Nations Cup. They have 16 points and are two matches away from completing their qualifying fixtures.
Malawi has nine points and Tunisia have seven. Both have three matches to complete their campaign. Nonetheless the stakes are heavily stacked in Botswana’s favour.

Apart from Cote d’Ivoire and Egypt who held Botswana to draws, all other visitors to Gaborone in recent years have lost to Zebras.  Malawi would love to pay Botswana in kind for having held them to a 1-all draw in their fortress Chichiri last August.

Should Malawi upset Botswana in their back yard in June, then that will open the way for a thrilling rush for the finish line. However a draw will hand the Zebras fans the right to dance, sing, and party for the right reason.

Botswana Zebras coach Stanley “Hunter” Tshosane says they are ready to face Chad in Ndjamena this weekend 

Botswana’s Zebras are on the verge of achieving a historical landmark in the Orange Africa Cup of Nations this weekend.
Since independence in 1966, the Zebras have never qualified for the Nations Cup. A victory against away in Ndjamena against their host Chad will almost certain secure their passage to their maiden appearance in Africa’s premier football event. 
From their opening 1-0 away victory against Tunisia at the start of their qualifying campaign in July last year, Botswana has topped the Group K standing.  Coach Stanley ‘Hunter” Tshosane says their attention has been on preparing to win matches away from home.
“To prepare for the match against Chad we played Sweden and narrowly lost 2-1 in Cape Town South Africa. Then we held Mozambique to a 1-all draw in Maputo, Tshosane begun.
“Our plan was to camp in Libya before flying to Ndjamena. However the situation there was no suitable. So our team has been in camp in Maung northern Botswana where the climate and weather is similar to the situation in Ndjamena,” coach Tshosane explained.
“I am particularly happy with the performance of the fringe players and some of the fresh faces I gave a run during the friendly matches against Mozambique and Sweden. Even though they did not have much game times during our qualifying campaign, they showed they understand the pattern of play I require of them,” Tshosane declared.
“This weekend, the whole of Botswana has their focus on us as the Zebras have a date with history. We have prepared as best as we can in the circumstances. The Zebras will give it our best shot in Ndjamena,” coach Tshosane assured.

Swaziland Under-23 coach Thabo ‘Koki’ Vilakati is positive they will make headway in their 2012 London Olympic qualifying campaign against Gabon later this month. 

Swaziland are determined to pull a surprise when the face Gabon at the start of their campaign to qualify for the 2012 London Olympics.
The Swazi Under-23 team coach Thabo ‘Koki” Vilakati says they have put behind them their exit from the 2011 Maputo All Africa Games qualifier. Botswana edged Swaziland 2-1 on aggregate.
“At that time we had a team that had barely trained together for three weeks. That is why we concede an easy goal to lose 1-0 at home in Somhlohlo Stadium and draw 1-1 in Gaborone,” says coach Vilakati. 
“Our players are involved in amateur football with their club at the moment. They have learnt a lot from their encounter with Botswana.
“The players understand that the Gabon assignment in Libreville later this is their last stand and they will give it their all. We aim to win our away encounter. So we ease the pressure in the return leg on home soil,” Vilakati assured.
The affable tactician acknowledges he has another huge challenge convincing the National Football Association of Swaziland (NFAS) to stay onside. However he is optimistic.
“Immediately our federation President and Chief Executive Officer returned from Sudan where they attended the Confederation of African Football General Assembly, I presented my program for Gabon,” Vilakati revealed.
“Meanwhile I am constantly monitoring the player’s progress in their respective clubs campaign in our local league. We have many young players who have shown the potential to make a breakthrough onto the big stage.
“They also know how significant it is to do well in the Gabon campaign as a stepping stone to advance their individual careers. I am happy with my boys,” Vilakati explained.

Botswana’s Under-23 coach Daniel ‘Chico Dance’ Nare says the Young Zebras are aiming high during the 2011 Maputo All Africa Games campaign.

A desire to emulate the Botswana senior national team, the Zebras, inspires the Young Zebras to aim high in the 2011 Maputo All Africa Games.
The under-23 side affectionately known to their fans as the Young Zebras, took a crucial step in that direction when they drew 1-all against the visiting Swaziland in Gaborone over the weekend. Earlier on Botswana won 1-0 away in Swaziland. Therefore they advance on a 2-1 aggregate.
“The way the Botswana Zebras has topped the Group K log table in the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier has brought in a new spirit of confidence in Botswana. The youth are keen o build on this momentum,” says the Young Zebras coach Daniel ‘Chico Dance’ Nare.
“Our under-23 side initially took the return leg match against Swaziland lightly as it was on home ground in Gaborone. They paid for it by conceding a goal. However after reminded them of our vision during the half time break, the players lifted their game in the second half and equalized against a fight Swaziland outfit,” Nare explained.
The Young Zebras now face Zimbabwe who got past Zambia on a 4-3 aggregate over the weekend. Botswana has regularly come out second best when they face a Zimbabwean side. However Nare is confident this time they will turn the tables against their neighbours.
“We tell our boys that for the Zebras to maintain consistency, we they must do well on the development platform. The Under-23 side is a stepping stone to the senior team. So all players strive to do their best,” says Nare.
“Sometimes when our most experienced striker Dipsy Selolwane is committed to his South African club Super Sport United, we aim to have young player replacement available like when Botswana played Sweden in Cape Town South Africa last week,” Nare explained.

Ghana’s unprecedented appearance in the 2010 FIFA World Cup quarterfinals has left their fans hungry for more success.
This is reflected in the high benchmark the Ghana Football Association (GFA) has set for the new Ghana Black Stars coach Goran Stevanovic. He has signed a two year contract which is renewable depending on the Black Stars performance.
“We have tasked Stevanovic to take the Black Stars to heights no African team has achieved at the FIFA World Cup. Ghana aim to become the first African country to win the World Cup,” says Kofi Nsiah, the GFA General Secretary.
Ghana followed Cameroon (1990) and Senegal (2002) in reaching World Cup quarterfinals. The GFA has dangled attractive incentives to underpin their desire to see the Black Stars break new grounds at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.
“Stevanovic will receive a bonus package of half a million Euros should Ghana qualify for the 2014 World Cup final. In the event the Black Stars win the 2014 World Cup, Stevanovic will receive a bonus of one million Euros,” Nsiah disclosed.
Ghanaians are not waiting for 2014 to see Stevanovic deliver results. He has his work cut out from the moment he assumes work in Ghana at the beginning of February.
“His immediate assignment is to win the Africa Cup of Nations. Stevanovic will have two opportunities in this regard,” says Nsiah.
Ghana seeks to take full advantage of the Confederation of African Football’s (CAF) decision to shift the staging of the Nations Cup from even to odd numbered years. After Gabon and Equatorial Guinea co-host the event in 2012, teams will again be vying for the coveted trophy the following year in Libya.
“Winning the Nations Cup is a realistic starting point. Ghana last won the Nations Cup in 1982 in Libya. We were third in 2008 and runners up in 2010. Now it is time to bring the trophy home,” says Nsiah.
Stevanovic admits Ghana has a pool of talent with the potential to achieve their dreams. However he is under no illusion of the enormous challenge that lies ahead.
“My biggest challenge is to motivate the players to believe they can do much more than they did in South Africa. It is a daunting task because they have achieved so much. The Black Stars mirror the country’s image and we will work together with total commitment,” Stevanovic assures.