JOHANNESBURG - Fairytale 2012 African Cup of Nations soccer qualifiers Botswana host Zimbabwe today in a friendly with star striker Jerome Ramatlhakwane on the prowl for more goals. The 26-year-old played a major role as the "Zebras" reached the biennial tournament for the first time by finishing above Tunisia, Malawi, Togo and Chad - an achievement which earned them the Caf Team of the Year award last month.

It was a stunning success as Botswana, a large diamond-rich southern African country with a population of just two million, had never previously challenged seriously for a place at the Cup of Nations.

They won five of eight mini-league matches - including both against 2004 champions Tunisia - and lost only the final fixture in Togo with top spot already secure.

Ramatlhakwane struck four match-winners and his fifth goal earned a draw in Malawi and rewarded the faith of coach Stanley Tshosane in a footballer who played hardly any club football during the qualifying competition.

A contract dispute with South African Premiership outfit Santos kept Ramatlhakwane sidelined and this would have been the kiss of death with numerous African national coaches.

Goran Stevanovic, the Serb handler of Cup of Nations co-favourites Ghana, will not consider inactive footballers with former Blackpool goalkeeper Richard Kingson among the casualties.

Ghana, tipped by many pundits to play Cote d'lvoire in the final of the three-week tournament, launch their Group D campaign on January 24 against Botswana.

Caf Coach of the Year finalist Tshosane has known Ramatlhakwane for 14 years and trusted his leading scorer to carry out a training programme while he kicked his heels at Cape Town-based Santos.

"Strong, fast and skilful with a sharp mind and an eye for goal," is how the former Botswana Defence Force officer sums up the star who bagged a brace in a 3-0 pre-Christmas friendly win over Lesotho.

"His club problems have not affected his form for the national team and he is the arrowhead of the Zebras. I trust him and he is now 90 percent ready for the Cup of Nations," added the coach.

The sole worry for Tshosane, whose second spell as national coach began four years ago, is a nagging hamstring injury centre-back and captain Mompati Thuma is fighting to recover fully from.

Botswana plan to release a 23-man Cup of Nations squad soon after the Zimbabwe match and will spend 10 days in Cameroon, where they may play some clubs, before flying to Gabonese city Franceville.