The Zebras have spent sometime in the intensive care unit, cooking up and dishing insipid performances over the years. The Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying campaign represented the Zebras with their resurrection moment, although the repair job went awry in the opening two games. Due to the fewer games played in the qualifiers after CAF decided to increase teams from 16 to 24 at the finals, the Zebras' path has never been straightforward. Unlike the first time they qualified where they had to engage in a marathon, this qualification route has been much more of a sprint with only six games spread over three international breaks. It started in September and by 7pm today, all will be done and dusted, either ending in jubilation or tears. The Zebras are, right up to the final day, in the mix and favoured to qualify for their second AFCON finals, unless if Mauritania conspire to play the role of party poopers to perfection.
The good thing is that Morena Ramoreboli's charges still have their fate firmly in their hands as a point against Egypt's Pharoahs will be sufficient, rendering the clash between Mauritania and Cape Verde, a dead rubber. One would say the boys have made life difficult and could rue a glut of missed chances at the Obed Itani Chilume Stadium on Friday where they could have buried their opponents in an avalanche. The passed up opportunities could come back to hunt and hound the Zebras if they fail to get a point and Mauritania win against Cape Verde later today. But fingers are crossed all the way from the valleys of Lobatse to the vast expanses of the Kalahari desert that the boys will finish off the smash-and-grab job at the 30, 000-seater 30 June Stadium. The good thing is that the Pharoahs have nothing to play for with qualification well and truly wrapped up. The hope is that the Mohammed Salah-less Egypt will significantly take the foot off the accelerator with only pride at stake. However, the Zebras must win their game to continue a year of celebration that has seen Botswana and Africa witness the first ever 200m Olympic Gold medal via Tebogo, the first motocross world champion in Ross Branch, as well as the southern African country witnessing the transfer of power from one political party to another for the first time since independence. The Zebras are ready to roar back after years of devastating famine and show that they cannot be discounted as the biggest sporting brand in the country, of course after Tebogo.
The overwhelming response to the rallying cry last week Friday, was evidence that there is still value in Zebras' stock despite their penchant to disappoint. They are still very much like the biblical prodigal son as they are warmly accepted back into the fans hearts despite plumbing the depths. Township Rollers and Sua Flamingoes donating 200 match day tickets, Matebele providing a bus, a whole President, his deputy and Leader of Opposition travelling all the way to Francistown on Friday represented the unconditional love a nation has for a team that can thrill and disappoint in equal measure. Businesspeople like Nicholas Zakhem and Ramachandran Ottapathu also pledged handsome incentives in case the team emerged victorious.
