U23 AFCON qualifiers: Botswana face Guinea for a place in the finals

Botswana's Young Zebras face Guinea from 11 November for a place in the finals of the U23 AFCON qualifiers, The Voice Botswana reports. Winners over the Seychelles in the first round with two 2-1 victories, 4-2 on aggregate over the two matches, the Botswana juniors now face an opponent of a different calibre.

Coach Michael Mogaladi, a former Zebras player who came through Mochudi Centre Chiefs and Maritzburg United, gathered his squad in camp from Monday ahead of this first match. He expects a Guinean team that is physical and quick in transition: "We are going to ensure that our boys know the stakes are higher than before, that they must be solid and move the ball faster to get the better of the opponent," he said. The 44-year-old coach, recently appointed to head the national team, also stressed concentration across the full 90 minutes, after defensive errors against the Seychelles, including a goal conceded from a throw-in.

The return match is set for 17 November in Guinea, making the home first leg all the more important. The camp is also meant to work on physical condition: several key members of the 26-man squad only play as substitutes at their clubs. Guinea, nicknamed the National Elephants, had been exempted from the first round.