GABORONE, Nov. 14 (Xinhua) -- Botswana is beaming with confidence ahead of their first leg soccer match against Malawi in the 2019 U-23 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers.
The match will be held in the town of Lobatse, 60 kilometres south of Gaborone, on Saturday afternoon.
Botswana assistant coach Letang Kgengwenyane told media on Wednesday that they have been busy in preparation for the maximum points.
He said it was important to win the first leg match so that they do not go to play the second leg under pressure.
Kgengwenyane will be in charge of the team for the match as head coach Mogomotsi Mpote is attending a CAF A-License course.
The Botswana team is buzzing with talent, most of whom ply their trade in the country's elite league and are hot favourites to progress to the next round of the qualifiers.
Team captain Thatayaone Ditlhokwe is also confident of a win against Malawi on Saturday.
The defender, who plays for the reigning league champions Township Rollers, will lead his team from the back against Malawi.
Other experienced players in the team include skillful midfielder Mothusi Cooper, also from Rollers, as well as defender Thato Kebue who had already played for the senior team.
Malawi is expected to arrive in Botswana on Thursday. Botswana will travel to Malawi for the second leg match on Nov. 20 with the overall winner progressing to the second round to play Zambia who got a bye to the second round.
At the end, eight teams will play in the final tournament in Egypt in June 2019.
The qualifiers also serve as the first stage of the CAF qualifiers for the 2020 Summer Olympics men's football tournament in Japan.
