Zebras fall short in CHAN qualifiers

Madagascar booked their spot at the tournament with a 2-1 aggregate. They beat Zebras 1-0 at the Obed Itani Chilume Stadium a fortnight ago, giving the home side an uphill task for the second leg away from home.

Head coach, Mogomotsi ‘Teenage’ Mpote started off the game with the likes of Mbatshi Elias, Baokeditswe Talane and Thero Setsile leading the attack with the team looking to score a goal away.

At the back, he stuck to his trusted soldiers in the likes of captain, Thato Kebue, Mosha Gaolaolwe while Alford Velaphi and Mothusi Johnson operated from the left and right wing backs.

However, it was Madagascar who drew first blood on home soil in the first 25 minutes, making it even more difficult for the visiting side. The Zebras equalised in the second half but the goal was not enough to take them to their first ever tournament played by locally based players in respective leagues. The Zebras went past Swaziland in the first round of the qualifiers through an away goal rule.

While other pundits feel that the team has done well so far, exposing new players into the national team environment, others have questioned the national team selectors’ decision to leave out the likes of Thatayaone Kgamanyane.