Botswana brace for tough debut

Published on: 30 October 2011

Botswana coach Stanley Tshosane has said he still expects a very tough Africa Cup of Nations despite the fact that some of the continent’s top guns will not be in attendance. 

Seven-time champions Egypt, Cameroon, Nigeria and Algeria have all missed out on next year’s tournament to be jointly staged by Gabon and Equatorial Guinea.

But Tshosane, whose Zebras will be making their debut in the competition proper, said he still expects a big battle for supremacy when Africa’s 16 top teams clash from January.

"I differ with those that say since Egypt and Cameroon are not there it will be easy because all the other teams have qualified on merit," said the coach, whose team upstaged 2004 champions Tunisia to finish top of Group K in fine style.

Botswana were Saturday drawn in Group D along with three West African teams Ghana, Mali and Guinea and open their campaign on January 24 in the Gabonese city of Frenchville with a cracking tie against four-time champions and one of the leading tournament favourites Ghana.

"The draw will help us plan," Tshoshane simply told MTNFootball.com

Botswana are scheduled to have more ideas of what West African football is all about when they play against Nigeria’s Super Eagles in a friendly on November 12.

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