21 Jun 2016

An adrenaline-charged night of regional cup football is on the cards as the senior national team, Zebras, face the Leopards of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in a COSAFA cup semifinal tomorrow (June 22).

The match, slated for the Sam Nujoma Stadium in Windhoek at 7:30pm, will present the Zebras with a chance of reaching a COSAFA Cup final for the first time since the tournament was launched in 1997.

While Zambia and Zimbabwe (four times each), South Africa and Angola (three times each) and Namibia (once) have all previously won the COSAFA Cup, Botswana have never made it to the final and Batswana will be cheering the team with the hope of seeing a reversal of fortunes.

The Zebras have enough talent in their side to emerge victorious, but will need to be tactically disciplined against the Leopards. At the weekend, the Zebras eliminated Namibia in a penalty shootout win.

The Zebras looked full value for their win, having taken the lead after an Onkabetse Mankgatai effort early in the second half was converted by Namibian defender Dacosta Angula in an attempted clearance.  The hosts equalized late on after converting a dubious penalty awarded by Zambian referee Janny Sikazwe.

Zebras coach Peter James Butler, sent to the stands in the aftermath of that Namibian penalty, will have to show great emotional intelligence in plotting the DRC downfall, in his pre-match talk and tactical approach.

At the time of going to print, midfield dynamo Lesego Galenamotlhale and goalkeeper Kabelo Dambe were reported to be doubtful having sustained injuries in the Saturday game, but were to undergo late fitness tests.

The gifted Galenamotlhale gives the Zebras shape in the middle of the park, and while Dambe’s experience is invaluable, Mwampule Masule, who was brought on after 25 minutes against Namibia looked impressive and is likely to keep his place in the starting line up.

Captain Joel Mogorosi could also make his way back to the starting line up, having only been involved in the last ten minutes as a late substitute, coming on for Mankgatai.

The Zebras face a Congolese side brimming with confidence.

Under the tutelage of Jean-Florent Ibengé, who has coached Chinese club Shenghai Shenhua and Congolese giants AS Vita, the DRC managed to win this year’s African Nations Championship (CHAN).

Ibengé and his side will now want to add the COSAFA title to their trophy cabinet.  With Botswana, South Africa and Swaziland reaching the semi finals through penalty shootout wins, the DRC was the only team to emerge from the quarterfinals with a win in regulation time. Nelson Munganga struck with a looping header off a corner kick to the Leopards a 1-0 win over Mozambique.

Central African side DRC are participating as an invitee and had a bye to participate directly in the quarterfinals, bypassing the group stages, where group winners Swaziland and Lesotho qualified to join the DRC, Namibia, Botswana, South Africa, Mozambique and Zambia in the quarterfinals.

In the other semi final set for a 17:00 kickoff, South Africa face Swaziland.  Ephraim ‘Shakes’ Mashaba’s Bafana Bafana side will have to be wary of Swazi coach Harris Bulunga’s Swazi side popularly known as Sihlangu Semnikati (the King’s Shield).

Last year, Swaziland emerged from the 2015 edition of the COSAFA Cup unbeaten, with two wins and a draw, only to be eliminated by Madagascar on goal difference.

At this year’s tournament Sihlangu stretched their COSAFA unbeaten run to seven matches, when they topped Group A with victories over Madagascar and the Seychelles as well as a draw with Zimbabwe, before eliminating Zambia in a quarterfinal penalty shootout over the weekend.

Like Botswana, Swaziland are looking to reach their first regional final, while three time COSAFA and former AFCON champions South Africa will want to cement their status as one of the region's football powerhouses. ENDS