19 Nov 2018

The Under 23 football team will face Malawi in the second leg encounter to be played at Kamuzu Stadium in Blantyre this afternoon(November 20).

The overall winner will face Zambia in yet another two legged encounter, and the winner will play at the Africa U-23 Cup of Nations finals in Egypt next year.

The local boys lost 2-1 in the first leg played on November 17.

The local boys were the first to draw blood through Mothusi Johnson in the second stanza of the game.

Malawi then retaliated by scoring two quick goals through Hassan Kajoke and Gregory Nachipo.

The local boys will need to up their socks to go to the next level, and they will have to change their game tactics.

Malawi, who will be enjoying home ground advantage, will have their full squad readys.

On Saturday, Malawi did not have all their players who are eligible for the U23. The players would be available in today’s encounter.

Botswana Football Association (BFA) communications officer, Tumo Mpatane said coach Letang Kgengwenyane had a ‘pep talk’ with the players before departing for Malawi.

He said the coach told the players that Malawi brought the game to them in the first 15 minutes, adding that they were told that the most important thing to do now was to fight with everything to ensure that they reserved the score line.

Furthermore, he said it was very important for the team to believe that they could also score the crucial goals away.

The coach on Sunday, he said, emphasised more on target shooting, adding that at the end it was just believing and playing to the philosophy that he had taught them.

“Even before their departure, they still have the same ooze and confidence, and they still believe they can change the results,” he said.

According to Mpatane, they were hopeful that today’s encounter would be a different ball game, adding that the technical team was cognizant that Malawi would have their full squad. ENDS