Botswana out to end Libya's AFCON dream

Botswana will take on Libya in the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualification Group J match at the Obed Itani Chilume Stadium in Francistown on Saturday. Kick-off is at 6:00 pm CAT. CURRENT FORM The Zebras succumbed to a 3-2 defeat to Equatorial Guinea at home on March 28 and they remain winless in Group J having recorded three consecutive defeats and one draw. Botswana are placed fourth on the Group J standings - two points behind third-placed Libya with the Zebras' ambitions of qualifying for the AFCON finals having faded away. Meanwhile, Libya suffered a 1-0 loss to Tunisia at home on March 28 as they extended their winless run to three matches in Group J having registered three successive defeats. The Mediterranean Knights are six points behind second-placed Equatorial Guinea and failing to defeat Botswana would end Libya's hopes of qualifying for the finals. TEAM NEWS Botswana coach Mogomotsi Mpote has surprisingly omitted Lebogang Ditsile from his latest squad despite the Gaborone United star having been a regular in the Zebras squads in the last few years. Coach Hamdi Bataw's Libya, on the other hand, will be without Mohamed El Monir with the Al Ahli Tripoli left-back having recently announced his retirement from international football. WHAT WAS SAID? Botswana captain Thatayaone Ditlhokwe “We are still learning. Our team is made up of young players. The average age in the squad is 26 years. We need to play more games to gain experience," Ditlhokwe told Mmegi. "It will be unfair to demand more from the players and the coach. The team that qualified for the 2012 AFCON took years to reach its peak. The players were together for a very long. We have to go through that process to start winning,” “We will approach the last two matches with a higher level of seriousness and commitment. The boys have to get used to the intensity of playing international matches if we want to go far as a nation." Libyan left-back Mohamed El Monir “Throughout the past period, I was thinking that it was time to leave the field for the young players who are the future of our Libyan football club," El Monir wrote on his official Facebook page. "And unfortunately some of them do not have the opportunity to represent the national team until a late age, especially since I have reached the stage that I no longer see my presence in the national team as of any benefit, as we live the same scenario every year and every participation. "Therefore, I wish success to my colleagues in the coming dates. I was and will remain supportive of them and our national team. I extend my thanks and gratitude to all our people. Today, my friends, I officially announce my retirement from international football. Administrative. Libya remains above all. Accept my greetings, your son Mohamed El Monir." HEAD-TO-HEAD STATS Botswana and Libya have met four times across all competitions. The Mediterranean Knights boast of an unbeaten record against the Zebras having recorded two wins and two draws. Their last meeting ended in a 1-0 in favour of Libya in a 2023 AFCON qualifier played in Benghazi in June 2022.