Zebras revive AFCON hopes
Mqondisi Dube - Chakalisa Dube | Saturday October 12, 2024 10:40
The win ensures the Zebras, who started the campaign with back-to-back losses to Mauritania and Egypt, are back in the mix. Tumisang Orebonye's early first half goal was enough to give Botswana the win. The Zebras will now fly back home for a must-win encounter against Cape Verde on Tuesday. Victory will likely see the Zebras occupy second spot. The top two teams qualify for the finals to be held in Morocco next year. Meanwhile, the Botswana National Sport Commission (BNSC) is awaiting the outcome of an investigation relating to circumstances that saw the Zebras stranded in Mauritania following an AFCON qualifier last month. There were issues with travel arrangements and as a result, the Zebras failed to fly back home in time to prepare for their AFCON qualifier against Egypt in Francistown. The team only arrived in Francistown six hours before kick-off and went on to lose the match 4-0.
The BNSC promised that it would commission an investigation to establish why the team did not make it on time for the Egypt clash. There were, however, reports that the BNSC did not process payments on time to a firm that was initially supposed to charter the team from Mauritania. The company reportedly pulled out of the deal forcing both the BNSC and BFA to look for an alternative charter, which was secured late. This week, the BNSC spokesperson, Anderson Nlisana, told MmegiSport that he could not give a timeline as to when the investigation will be completed. He, however, said that the investigating team has started its work. “As promised, the investigation team was established by the chairperson, and these include relevant members of the BNSC employ and some independent professionals and experts. You will note that this is a matter of national interest and the results or findings are expected to be of true reflection, fair, and honest. The constituted team is currently working on what they have been mandated to do, and we have given them the space and time they need to independently explore circumstances that led to the unfortunate situation experienced by the Zebras,” he said.
Although he did not offer details as to when the investigating team started its work, he emphasised that the board is expecting the investigation to be concluded soon. “Once the board has received the report, it will review it and take the necessary measures where need be, to make sure that such instances do not repeat in the future. Similarly, the board will decide on when and how to share the report with necessary entities and the media,” he said.