GABORONE, Oct. 17 (Xinhua) -- Botswana is remaining optimistic about qualifying for the 2019 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) after playing to a nil-all draw with Burkina Faso Tuesday night at the Francistown Sports Complex.
David Bright, the head coach for Botswana's Zebras told journalists in a post-match interview in Francistown, Botswana's second largest city saying the draw - that earned the hosts their first ever point - will motivate the boys ahead of the remaining games.
The Zebras, as the team is known, are in Group I alongside Mauritania, Angola and Burkina Faso.
Botswana's senior national soccer team has played Mauritania at home and lost 1-0 before losing with the similar margin away to Angola. Last Saturday, Botswana lost 3-0 in their third qualifying game against the Burkinabe in Ouagadougou before playing to a 0-0 draw Tuesday night.
"This (draw) will serve as a motivating factor for the boys. Our group is one of the most difficult one if you take a closer look to all the groups. However, the setback we have suffered is not surmountable," Bright said.
The Botswanan soccer team paraded very young and talented players, he noted. He said his team has got the capacity to collect six points from the remaining reverse fixtures against Angola and Mauritania to be played late next month.
"We need to fine tune our strike force. Our chief striker, Onkabetse Makganthai was rushing some decisions. And he was not alone in rushing decisions. We will work on the shortfalls with a view of collecting maximum points in the last two games," he said.
The biannual continental soccer competition will be held in Cameroon in January 2019.
Botswana has only qualified for the continental showpiece once in 2012. Enditem
