Definitely when it is your time to achieve greatness nothing can stand on your way. This is the case with Botswana’s national team, the mighty Zebras that look to make their maiden appearance at the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) to be co-hosted by Gabon and Equatorial Guinea. Botswana’s fairytale run in the qualifiers continued on Wednesday when they walloped Africa power houses, Tunisia by a solo goal in Gaborone. The victory means only a miracle will stop the mighty Zebras from making it to 2012 Afcon and their destiny is in their own hands. The results also means Botswana are on top of Group K with 13 points from five matches and are yet to lose a match. This also means Botswana collected maximum points from former African champions after winning the round with a solo goal also away in Tunis in July. Both home and away goals were scored by none other than Jerome Ramatlhakwane.
On Wednesday he capitalized on the spillage from the Tunisian goalkeeper, Mathlough Aymen in the dying minutes of the first half. Veteran, Diphetogo Selolwane had earlier on gone for a shot. Ramatlhakwane is also the leading goalscorer in the Afcon qualifiers with four goals despite struggling to find game time in the South African Premier League Club, Vasco Da-Gama. On the other hand Tunisia played well throughout the match but could not break the impregnable Botswana defence led by Captain Mompati Thuma. Just from the onset the Tunisia were all over Botswana looking for an early goal and could not be intimidated by the thousands of Batswana who came in their numbers. The tactics of coach, Stanley Tshosane worked well for Botswana, he applied a defensive approach to absorb the Tunisian pressure and cautiously went for attacks. Botswana mainly manned the 18th box to thwart any move because had they went in their numbers in attack they could have opened space for the Tunisians.
Botswana efforts frustrated Tunisia who are very strong in short passes and space exploitation. Tunisians then could not effectively spray their passes and make those explosive runs. Botswana are now on top of Group K with 13 points followed by Tunisia with seven points while Malawi have 11. Other teams that are trailing the group are Chad and Togo. The two were also battling it out in Chad on Wednesday.
