16 Nov 2014

The senior national football team, the Zebras, put a sterling performance against Tunisia in an AFCON qualifying game at the National Sadium on Friday, November 14.

The game ended with a goalless draw and the results assured Tunisia a place at the AFCON finals scheduled for Equatorial Guinea who were given the rights to host the African master piece, after Morocco pulled out in fear of the Ebola Virus. 

The draw meant that Tunisia stayed at the top of Group G with 11 points.  However during the game, because the local lads had nothing to lose, Zebras coach Peter ‘PJ’ Butler made some few changes in his line up starting with Bonolo Phuduhudu and Topo Piet. Regulars; Jerome Ramatlhakwane and Mogakolodi Ngele started on the bench.     

On the fourth minute of the game, Zebras goal minder Kabelo Dambe  already felt the heat, as he was already tested by Tunisia forwards, forcing him to parry  the first attempt back in to play and the second one resulting in a corner.  The Zebras retaliated as they also made an attempt with Segolame Boy’s near post header going wide.

 The game went to recess with a score sheet reading 0-0, and after the break the visitors seemed to be comfortable settling for a draw as in the second half, as they employed some delaying tactics. 

Tunisia had a couple of players who were taller, hence they resorted to playing aerial balls, but their tactics did not deter the Zebras to hold them on the day.

On the 61th minute, one had hoped that Butler will substitute Lemponye Tshireletso who had a dull game, but instead pulled out Topo Piet and introduced the tried and tested Zebras marksman, Ramatlhakwane.

The substation on its own made Zebras to look very dangerous, because their speedy winger, Joel Mogorosi switched to flank, while Ramatlhakwane was a top man. But as the game was starting to go the Zebras way, Butler pulled out Mogorosi on the 69th minute and introduced Ngele.

It was still a good substitution because Ngele changed the whole complexion of the game, since the Zebras took control of the game, managing to string a couple of passes although they failed to test Tunisia’s goalkeeper Mathlouthi Aymen.  

Tunisia head coach, Georges Leekens said after the game that although the Zebras gave his team a difficult game, he was happy that they managed to qualify for AFCON finals.

He said they were under pressure to at least qualify with a win, not a draw, adding that now that they had qualified even before their remaining game against Egypt, his intension was now to use more young blood in the coming game.

Butler said he was proud of his team, because they played with passion and pride for the country. Most of Tunisian’s players ply their trade in Europe and Butler said holding them to a goalless draw was very encouraging. ENDS