The Botswana National Football Team ‘the Zebras’ has qualified for the Total Energies CAF Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2025 set for Morocco after holding Egypt to a 1-1 draw at the 30 June Air Defence Stadium on Tuesday.
The Zebras secured their berth after finishing with eight points in Group C of the qualifiers while Egypt finished on the first position unbeaten with 14 points also qualifying for the AFCON 2025.
Mauritania and Cape Verde which were also staged in Group C failed to qualify with the latter coming third with seven points while the former ended the campaign at the bottom of the group with only four points.
Botswana returns to AFCON after a 12-year absence, marking a momentous occasion for the Zebras and its supporters. The Zebras secured their first appearance at AFCON in 2012 which was co-hosted by Equatorial Guinea and Gabon.
The Zebras first shocking goal against Egypt was struck in by Omaatla Kebatho in the eighth minute after receiving a well-placed cross from Kabelo Seakanyeng. The Pharaohs responded quickly on the 16th minute as Mahmoud Hassan ‘Trezeguet’ scored an equalising goal.
The second half of the game saw the Zebras defending effortful as they knew that a draw would make it possible for them to qualify. The Pharaohs had tried by all means to make a breakthrough in the second half but failed until the blow of the last whistle.
Speaking to media after the game, Zebras’ Interim Head Coach Morena Ramoreboli expressed delighted regarding team’s performance indicating that they put in a lot of hard work to make it possible to qualify. Ramoreboli noted that the team did well despite playing with Egypt, one of the top teams in the continent.
He noted that the players had to adjust their tactics in the second half of their game against Egypt to make sure that they secure a point though that was not easy.
“When you have a good group of individuals who are willing to work and die for our nation, everything is possible. The players did well and also the association, the nation and the technical team gave us the support,’’ he said.
