By Patrick Akoto
Former Ghana FA boss Ben Koufie is delighted with the qualification of minnows Botswana for next year’s Africa Cup of Nations after spearheading the restructuring of the country’s football.
The Zebras became the first country to qualify for the continent's flagship competition following a 1-0 success over Chad in Group K at Ndjamena on 26 March.
Bostwana's groundswell feat has shocked many but Koufie says they are reaping the seeds of meticulous planning sowed some years ago.
"I'm not surprised at all because when I went there we started from ground zero and today I’m happy my contribution has paid off greatly," Koufie told Accra-based radio station Citi FM.
"I drew up the planning for them and indeed put their current coach who is a local man in charge. They’ve been in camp for the past one solid year."
"The players are only released to play for their respective teams in the league match and quickly go back to the camping base."
Botswana are now guaranteed to finish at least second in the five-team group.
Two teams from the group will qualify for the tournament to be played in Gabon and Equatorial Guinea.