Botswana’s Minister of Youth Empowerment, Sports and Culture Development, Tumiso Rakgare, has reportedly appealed to Botswana’s Zebras to excel in the remaining qualifying matches for the 2021 AFCON.

Botswana FA website reports that Rakgare made the remarks when he visited The Zebras training camp at Jamali Stadium in Tlokweng on Wednesday.

“It is important to play in the AFCON finals. This will give you a better platform of being scouted by international teams. I want you, all The Zebras players playing in Spain, France and England leagues. We see this happening in other countries. We have to work hard as that chance may come whilst playing with the best at AFCON. Together with top officials at the ministry, we are working on modalities to put incentives for the national teams. We are however guided by government protocols,” he said.

The Zebras host Zimbabwe on March 25 2021 then face already qualified Algeria on March 29 2021.

The Zebras coach, Adel Amrouche, is quoted thanking Rakgare for visiting the team.

“It is a positive insight to have a minister who knows sports particularly football. He has passion for it and wishes the team well. The players know him personally and when they assure him that they will play for the flag, despite all conditions we are facing, I haven’t seen these players complain of anything, we are determined to win and qualify,” Amrouche is quoted saying.

Line ups:

Zimbabwe: Talbert Shumba, Takudzwa Chimwemwe, Onismor Bhasera, Jimmy Dzingai, Teenage Hadebe, Thabani Kamusoko, Ovidy Karuru, Perfect Chikwende, Knowledge Musona, Kuda Mahachi, Terrence Dzvukamanja