The Zebras take on Eswatini in the second leg of the first round of qualifiers match to be played at the Orlando Stadium in South Africa on Sunday afternoon. The two teams played to a 0-0 draw in the first leg played at the Obed Itani Chilume Stadium last Saturday.
With the last round of qualifiers in sight, the Zebras are in for a tricky contest against Eswatini. The winner of the tie will face either Madagascar or Seychelles in the next round for a berth at Africa's second-tier continental championship.
The Zebras will be comforted in that the tie takes place at a neutral venue as Eswatini's facilities failed the CAF test. However, Eswatini will be looking to maximise the home game advantage.
Sihlangu Semnikati (King's Shield) as Eswatini national team is affectionately called, looked the better of the two teams in Francistown and the Zebras' goalkeeper, Goitseone Phoko was forced on numerous occasions to come up with saves to deny the visitors an away victory.
Heading to the second leg, Mpote is aware of the threat posed by the weekend's opponents and the Zebras will go into the tie hunting for a win. "I am looking forward to the match in South Africa (SA). We played a wounded Eswatini after we won against them in the COSAFA Cup.
You could see that they had prepared for us very well.
We will go there with a mentality of winning. We cannot go there and sit back. They will hurt us because they are a good team. We are going to be aggressive in our approach. I see a very tough game in the second leg.
It will be a totally different ball game," Mpote told journalists after the draw in Francistown. Eswatini lost 2-0 to the Zebras in the COSAFA plate cup semi-final and the local boys are happy to carry the 'bigger team' tag.
Mpote has stuck with the squad that he took to Durban, SA for the COSAFA Cup. He has continued to mix youth with experience following this week's addition of Orapa United's midfielder, Gofaone Mabaya to the squad. Curiously, there are no Township Rollers charges in Mpote's squad. Meanwhile, the Under-20s are in a selection camp for the COSAFA U-20 Challenge Cup.
The Zebras Squad
Goalkeepers: Goitseone Phoko (GU), Lesenya Malapela (Orapa United), Ryan Brown (Jwaneng Galaxy) Defenders: Doctor David (Galaxy) Mothusi Johnson, Thato Kebue, Alford Velaphi (all GU), Thobo Seeleko (Morupule Wanderers), Tebogo Kopelang, Kitso Mangolo (Security Systems) Midfielders: Lebogang Ditsele, Gape Thibedi, Omphile Ramoagi (all GU), Gofaone Mabaya (Orapa United), Shaun Theron (Notwane), Thabang Khuduga (Holy Ghost) Forwards: Godfrey Tauyatsalwa (BDF XI), Kaone Bogosi (Orapa United), Thero Setsile (GU), Resaobaka Thatanyane (Galaxy), Baokeditswe Talane (Extension Gunners)
