The Zebras were 'airlifted' to the qualifiers' group stages after Eritrea pulled out of the competition. The team was barren in the 1-0 away loss to Libya and a 0-0 draw at home.
Head coach, Mogomotsi 'Teenage' Mpote's worries would ease as he has summoned a 49-goal frontline into the team ahead of the back-to-back against Equatorial Guinea. The strikers have an average of six goals per attacker this season. Mpote has seven forwards in the team who have contributed almost half a century of goals this season.
Orapa United's Omaatla Kebatho is the most lethal of the contingent. He leads the Botswana Premier League charts with 15 goals in 17 games played. The striker has the best goal output, averaging a goal every 102 minutes in the league. 'Dunga' returns to the Zebras set-up after a four-year absence. He had struggled with form in the previous season but he has found his Midas Touch in the 2022-2023 season. Kebatho is expected to battle Algerian-based Tumisang Orebonye for the number nine role if Mpote goes with his preferred 4-3-3 formation.
Orebonye has commanded the position in recent years as Zebras faced a drought of net bangers. The striker will be the natural choice ahead of Dunga when Zebras take on Equatorial Guinea next week Friday. Statistically, Orebonye is miles behind Kebatho with just one goal this season. The striker had a dull half a season with Olympique de Khourigda (OCK) in Morocco before switching to USM Alger in January. He has since started in two CAF Confederations Cup games and netted a goal.
Orebonye's exposure to continental football could give him an upper hand over Kebatho and Mpote would be happy to have a capable replacement in the Orapa United man. Kabelo Seakanyeng and Thatayaone Kgamanyane are likely to start in the two inverted winger positions. The duo is not enjoying the best of the seasons with OCK and Gaborone United respectively. Seakanyeng has bagged a couple of assists since returning from a loan with Dibba FC in the UAE while Kgamanyane has netted eight times in the league.
The two's creativity and scoring ability will give them an advantage over 12-goal Thabang Sesinyi, Thero Setsile and off-form Mbatshi Elias. Onkabetse Makgantai is also an option in the front three. The Zebras are in Morocco for a mini-training camp before jetting to Malabo on Monday. The team will play a warm-up match against a local team before their departure to Equatorial Guinea. Ezekiel Morake has joined the squad from his Ethiopian base this week while Thatayaone Ditlhokwe, Seakanyeng, and Orebonye will join after the weekend's games in their respective roles. Mpote's troops lie bottom of Group J with just a point. Tunisia leads with four while Libya and Equatorial Guinea are tied on three points each.
