Eswatini’s Sihlangu Semnikati have been considered the region’s lightweights in football over the years. But that narrative is slowly changing with their strong performances in the regional COSAFA Cup.
However, they are still regarded as a team transiting from the lower to the middle rungs of regional football. They have never been to the Africa Cup of Nations finals, a feat which the Zebras achieved under Stanley Tshosane in 2012.
Eswatini’s best performance at the COSAFA Cup has been reaching the semi-finals. In contrast, the Zebras have gone one better and reached the finals in 2016 and 2019 but are still to land the trophy.
The tiny kingdom nation’s lowest FIFA ranking was 190, while Zebras’ worst is 165. Eswatini’s best placing was 88, compared to 51 for Zebras who climbed to their highest ever ranking in 2010 on the back of an impressive run in the 2012 AFCON qualifiers.
Sihlangu Semnikati’s current ranking is 144, while their average position has been 141.
Zebras’ present placing is 146, meaning they went into the CHAN qualifier against Eswatini, two places below their opponents.
The Zebras have failed to ignite the spark that earned them unparalleled love across the country since the days of Veselin Jelusic, through their AFCON qualification under Tshosane, and also a sparkling period under Peter Butler.
The Zebras’ average FIFA ranking is 127, meaning overall they are a better side than Eswatini, although rankings can be misleading.
While Mpote’s side was favoured to breeze through Eswatini’s shield, it was instead the visitors who dominated the first leg in Francistown last month.
The match ended 0-0 after Eswatini missed several chances. In the return leg played in Johannesburg, Eswatini once again proved to be the more adventurous side and it needed a late intervention from Thero Setsile to rescue a 2-2 draw. The result meant the Zebras were through to the final qualifying round on the away goals rule.
Up next was Madagascar amid optimism that the Islanders could be swept away for the Zebras’ second qualification to a major continental tournament.
Madagascar are statistically better than both the Zebras and Eswatini. They are placed 105th in the FIFA rankings, and their average position is 134.
However, their best position has been number 74, still below the Zebras’ highest of 53. Their worst placing was at 190, while the Zebras have had the ‘best’ worst placing at 165.
The Barea as Madagascar is nicknamed, looked the more prepared and hungrier in their encounter against the Zebras in Francistown in a fortnight, running out 1-0 winners. In the second leg, the Zebras fought hard but could only settle for a 1-1 draw in Antananarivo.
It meant in four matches, the Zebras had failed to register a win and ultimately paid the price as they could not proceed to the finals.
Mpote and his charges would feel this was a missed opportunity. The coach left out tried and trusted players in preference for young blood. The omission proved costly and denied Mpote a place in the history books. Even at the COSAFA Cup, Mpote opted for the experiment, yet the door was open to win a tournament in which most sides put faith in youngsters.
Countries like Angola, South Africa, and Zambia have the luxury to try out combinations as they have won the trophy on countless occasions. But the story was different for Mpote as Botswana is yet to taste success at the regional competition. Putting out his strongest line-up could have ensured success and a place in the history books alongside Stanley Tshosane as the only two coaches to take the Zebras to the finals of a continental tournament.
But with the AFCON qualifiers to come next year, and the Zebras already starring down the barrel after two matches, it appears a long way before another appearance at the finals of a continental competition.
Peter Butler, the late David Bright, Mpote and Adel Amrouche have tried to get the Zebras back into a full gallop but with varying degrees. Butler recorded some stunning victories in his time in charge, notably wins over Burkina Faso and Mali before a sold-out Obed Itani Chilume Stadium.
The best ranking the Zebras have managed since their place in the sun back in 2012, has been number 86 achieved under Butler.
Since then the team has been hovering too close to the worst ranking of 165 achieved in 1990.
The Botswana Football Association (BFA), which has seen the government back its bid to host the 2027 AFCON finals, is due to appoint a substantive coach in the next three weeks. BFA CEO, Mfolo Mfolo said a decision will be made, but it all points to Mpote getting the role on a full-time basis.
There is a fixation with 2027, with the BFA demanding the coach to select players with the tournament, five years away, in mind.
This has blunted chances of instant success with slow cooking development favoured.
