AFCON 2012

In 2008, I predicted that the Zebras of Botswana would qualify for AFCON 2010. Well, it did not happen, but they became the first team to qualify for the next event, and also won the Africa Team of the year award.

Many have written them off as also ran because they are placed in the group of death with favorites Ghana -with whom they play their opening match, Guinea - who toppled the fancy Eagles of Nigeria, by getting four points out of six against the Nigerians, including a hard fought 2-2 draw in Nigeria on the final day of qualifying and the Malians who are as fearsome as any team in West Africa today.

Despite the lack of financial support comparable to that promised to their opponents, and the feeling of lack of appreciation by the team, the boys are still very focused and united on the job to be done.

My prediction is that the Zebras will come through the "back door" and qualify why the West African trio cancel each other. A draw and a win would be enough for the zebras who would qualify on goal difference/head to head rule. In any case, they would be as difficult to beat as any team in the group.

N Forcheh
16/01/2012

African Football

The rise of Botswan in African Football continues. In a space of two weeks, the young Zebra's (the Botswana Under 23 National team) couched by Major Bright (a local couch) knocked Angola out of the African Game qualifiers and followed that up by knocking the fancy Tunisians out of the Olympic Qualifiers.
For the Angolan Game, the young Zebras won the first leg played in Gaborone 2-0. During the return leg, they held their own sway for almost 80minutes, until one of their players was sent off with barely 10mins of normal play left. The Angolans took this opportunity to score two goals in 10mins to force the game into penalties, but the Zebras were not to be denied.

A week and a half later, Bostwana hosted Tunisia in the return match of the olympic qualifiers, needing a win to go through. The first leg had ended goaless.
On arrival, the Tunisian couch was confident of victory, on the basis that his team that played the first leg in Tunis had been reinforced by two key players.

On the night, the Zebras scored an early first half goal that proved to be the winning goal that saw them through to the next round at the expense of Tunisia. The stadium was packed full with expectations, and the fans were not disappointed.
It should be remembered that both Angola and Tunisia represented the continent in last year's(2006) FIFA World Cup in Germany.

Tomorrow, Sunday 25th March, the full national team hosts Burundi in the African Cup of Nations qualifiers, and tickets are at a premium as Batswana are rushing in from all corners of the large country to watch their team continue its winning ways. At this rate, it will be a safe bet that Botswana will make its first apparence in a Major finals at the 2010 African Cup of Nations Finals. To go to CAF page: http://www.cafonline.com/

N. Forcheh
reporting from Gaborne, Botswana

What you don't use you loose

Its amazing how true the saying "What you don't use, you loose" is. Only two months away from my new found hobby, Blogs, I even forgot my blog name. In one of my last update, I migrated from the old Blog to the new one, and selected yahoo as host. Come today, I couldn't even remember this little change!

And my colleagues at the University of Botswana who have just completed the course on Enhanced Elearning. Happy new year! How are you all doing with content, calendar, notes, blogs, etc. for your online courses?

We need a get together. Please call me on ext 2366.

N. Forcheh
18/01/2007

Posting Messages on your blog

Once a blog is created, you need to place messages for your visitors unto your blog.
Anyone can access your blog just just by typing the web address.
In order to place a message for your visitors, you must go through the blog.com website again.

GOTO the BLOGGER.COM site: http://www.blogger.com/start
Click on Sign in to Blogger to continue.
Type your blog name and password.
Click on the solid + under new post to type message like this one.

Further help is available from:

http://help.blogger.com/bin/answer.py?answer=41378&topic=8915

Waiting from your comment.

You are all invited to my Blog (Weblog) and to share anything you like there.

Today, I is all about the anticipated arrival of the Cameroon National (football) Team, the Indomitatble lions to play the Zebras - the national team of Botswana on the occation of the 40th anniversary of Indepenndence of Botswana on Saturday 30th September 2006.

The lions only other know encounter with the Zebras was another friendly at the same national stadium in 1990 which ended in a goalless draw. This was after the exploits of the Lions at the Italia-90 world cup.

Watch this space for details.

Forcheh 25/09/2006