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Botswana national football team
Men's association football team From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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The Botswana national football team (Tswana: Setlhopha sa bosetšhaba sa kgwele ya dinao sa Botswana) was founded in 1970 to represent Botswana in association football and is governed by the Botswana Football Association (BFA). The team has qualified for two Africa Cup of Nations tournaments, in 2012[2] and 2025.[3]
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History
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It took part in its first preliminary competition for the 1994 World Cup in the United States, where it faced Niger and Ivory Coast. It managed a 0–0 draw with the latter in Gaborone, and lost its other 3 matches, finishing last in its group.
The next competition it entered was for the 2002 World Cup, where it faced Zambia in a 2-legged tie to decide which team would advance to the group stages. Zambia won both legs of the tie to qualify and knock Botswana out.
After this, Botswana lost 3–0 to Zambia and to second-string sides from South Africa and Zimbabwe at home in Gaborone. A draw with Madagascar which was ranked at 146th in the world at the time, led Botswana FA to sack manager Colwyn Rowe, who had guided Botswana to its then-highest ever FIFA ranking of 95th. BFA claimed this move was taken because it feared for his safety from angry fans. Stanley Tshosane was named as his replacement and in his first game in charge, Botswana achieved a 2–1 win away to Mozambique. While achieving a draw with Ivory Coast, Botswana finished bottom of its qualifying group for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.
Botswana defied its ranking to become the first team to qualify for the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations, beating Tunisia both at home and away. This coincided with a rise to its highest ever FIFA ranking of 53rd. It did not manage to build upon this upturn in form at the tournament, losing more narrowly to Ghana and Mali and more heavily to Guinea to finish bottom of its group with 0 points.
The truncated qualification format for the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations saw Botswana face Mali in a two-legged tie, which Botswana lost 7–1 on aggregate. Botswana failed to qualify for the 2014 World Cup, finishing third in its group with 7 points behind South Africa and Ethiopia.
In October 2013, BFA sacked Tshosane, citing his "failing to meet the targets set for him". It subsequently appointed Englishman Peter Butler in February 2014.
Beating Burundi and Guinea-Bissau in the knockout rounds, it finished last in its qualifying group for the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations with a single point. In its qualifying group for the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations, it finished third - 7 points behind qualifiers Burkina Faso and Uganda. In the qualifiers for the 2018 World Cup, it beat Eritrea in the first round and won 2–1 at home against Mali in the first leg of the second round. A 2–0 win for Mali in Bamako meant that Botswana lost on aggregate and failed to make the group stages.
In July 2017, David Bright became manager of the Zebras for the 4th time after BFA chose not to renew Butler's contract. He led the team during qualifiers for the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations, in which Botswana scored only 1 goal in its 6 Group I matches.
Botswana made a poor start to their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualification campaign, with two losses leading many to believe they had little chance of making it to Morocco.[4] Despite this, they then picked up eight points from a possible twelve on offer, a 1-1 draw away at Egypt in their last match of the campaign sealing qualification for only their second ever Africa Cup of Nations.[5] This was despite manager Didier Gomes Da Rosa resigning to take charge of Al Ahli,[6] meaning Morena Ramoreboli took interim charge for the team's last two matches.[7]
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Results and fixtures
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The following is a list of match results in the last 12 months, as well as any future matches that have been scheduled.
Win Draw Loss Fixture
2024
| 8 January Friendly | Botswana  | 1–1 |  Mozambique | Johannesburg, South Africa |
| 16:00 UTC+2 |
|
Report |
|
Stadium: Johannesburg Stadium |
| 22 March Friendly | Botswana | 0–0 |  Rwanda | Antananarivo, Madagascar |
| 13:00 UTC+3 | Stadium: Mahamasina Municipal Stadium |
| 25 March Friendly | Burundi  | 0–0 | Botswana | Antananarivo, Madagascar |
| 13:00 UTC+3 | Stadium: Mahamasina Municipal Stadium |
| 7 June 2026 World Cup qualification | Uganda  | 1–0 | Botswana | Kampala, Uganda |
| 19:00 UTC+3 |
|
Report | Stadium: Mandela National Stadium Attendance: 45,000 Referee: Clement Franklin Kpan (Ivory Coast) |
| 10 June 2026 World Cup qualification | Somalia  | 1–3 | Botswana | Maputo, Mozambique |
| 15:00 UTC+2 |
|
Report |
|
Stadium: Estádio do Zimpeto Referee: Emmanuel Mensah (Liberia) |
| 26 June 2024 COSAFA Cup | Eswatini  | 0–0 | Botswana | Gqeberha, South Africa |
| 15:00 | Report | Stadium: Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium |
| 29 June 2024 COSAFA Cup | South Africa  | 0–0 | Botswana | Gqeberha, South Africa |
| 15:00 | Report | Stadium: Isaac Wolfson Stadium |
| 2 July 2024 COSAFA Cup | Mozambique | 3–1 | Botswana | Gqeberha, South Africa |
| 15:00 |
|
Report |
|
Stadium: Isaac Wolfson Stadium |
| 7 September 2025 AFCON qualification | Mauritania  | 1–0 | Botswana | Nouakchott, Mauritania |
| 16:00 UTC+0 |
|
Report | Stadium: Cheikha Ould Boïdiya Stadium Referee: Daniel Nii Laryea (Ghana) |
| 10 September 2025 AFCON qualification | Botswana | 0–4 |  Egypt | Francistown, Botswana |
| 18:00 UTC+2 | Report | Stadium: Obed Itani Chilume Stadium Referee: Omar Abdulkadir Artan (Somalia) |
| 10 October 2025 AFCON qualification | Cape Verde  | 0–1 | Botswana | Praia, Cape Verde |
| 15:00 UTC−1 | Report |
|
Stadium: Estádio Nacional de Cabo Verde Referee: Samir Guezzaz (Morocco) |
| 15 October 2025 AFCON qualification | Botswana | 1–0 | Cape Verde | Francistown, Botswana |
| 18:00 UTC+2 |
|
Report | Stadium: Obed Itani Chilume Stadium Attendance: 8,000 Referee: Messie Nkounkou (Congo) |
| 15 November 2025 AFCON qualification | Botswana | 1–1 | Mauritania | Francistown, Botswana |
| 14:00 UTC+2 |
|
Report |
|
Stadium: Obed Itani Chilume Stadium Referee: Bamlak Tessema Weyesa (Ethiopia) |
| 19 November 2025 AFCON qualification | Egypt | 1–1 | Botswana | Cairo, Egypt |
| 19:00 UTC+2 |
|
Report |
|
Stadium: 30 June Stadium Referee: Abdallah Jammeh (Gambia) |
2025
| 21 March 2026 World Cup qualification | Botswana | 1–3 |  Algeria | Francistown, Botswana |
| 15:00 UTC+2 |
|
Report (FIFA) Report (CAF) |
Stadium: Obed Itani Chilume Stadium Attendance: 3,278 Referee: Ahmed Arajiga (Tanzania) |
| 25 March 2026 World Cup qualification | Botswana | 2–0 | Somalia | Francistown, Botswana |
| 15:00 UTC+2 | Report (FIFA) Report (CAF) |
Stadium: Obed Itani Chilume Stadium |
| 6 June 2025 COSAFA Cup | Comoros  | 0–0 | Botswana | Bloemfontein, South Africa |
| 18:00 UTC+2 | Report | Stadium: Dr. Petrus Molemela Stadium Referee: Arnaud Zafimahatoha (Madagascar) |
| 11 June 2025 COSAFA Cup | Botswana | 3–3 |  Zambia | Bloemfontein, South Africa |
| 15:00 UTC+2 |
|
Report | Stadium: Dr. Petrus Molemela Stadium Referee: Akhona Makalima (South Africa) |
| September 2026 World Cup qualification | Algeria | v | Botswana |
| September 2026 World Cup qualification | Mozambique | v | Botswana |
| October 2026 World Cup qualification | Botswana | v | Uganda |
| October 2026 World Cup qualification | Guinea  | v | Botswana |
| 23 December 2025 AFCON Group Stage | Senegal  | v | Botswana | Tangier, Morocco |
| 18:00 | Stadium: Ibn Batouta Stadium |
| 27 December 2025 AFCON Group Stage | Benin  | v | Botswana | Rabat, Morocco |
| 20:30 | Stadium: Prince Moulay Abdellah Olympic Annex Stadium |
| 30 December 2025 AFCON Group Stage | Botswana | v |  DR Congo | Rabat, Morocco |
| 20:30 | Stadium: Al Barid Stadium |
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Coaching history
- Caretaker managers are listed in italics.
Thomas Johnson (1973)
Rudi Gutendorf (1976)
Peter Cormack (1986–1987)
Kenny Mwape (1990–1992)- Freddie Mwila (1992–1994)
Freddie Mwila (1994–1996)
Michael Gaborone (1996–1997)- David Bright (1997–1998)
- David Bright (1999)
Jeff Butler (1999)- David Bright (2000)
- Karl-Heinz Marotzke (2001)
Veselin Jelušić (2002–2005)- David Bright (2006)
- Colwyn Rowe (2006–2008)
- Stanley Tshosane (2008–2013)
- Peter Butler (2014–2017)
- Mogomotsi Mpote (2017)
- David Bright (2017–2019)
- Mfolo Mfolo (2019)
- Mogomotsi Mpote (2019)
Adel Amrouche (2019–2022)
Rahman Gumbo (2022)- Mogomotsi Mpote (2022–2023)
Didier Gomes Da Rosa (2023-2024)
Morena Ramoreboli (2024-)
Players
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Current squad
The following players were called up for the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification – CAF Group G matches against Algeria and Somalia on 20 and 25 March 2025 respectively.[8]
Caps and goals correct as of 19 November 2024, after the match against Egypt.
Recent call-ups
The following players were last called up within the last twelve months.
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Player records
- As of 15 November 2024[9]
- Players in bold are still active with Botswana.
Most appearances
Top goalscorers
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Competitive records
FIFA World Cup
Africa Cup of Nations
COSAFA Cup
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Head-to-head record
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As of 25 March 2025 after match against Somaila[10]
| Positive balance (more Wins) | |
| Neutral balance (Wins = Losses) | |
| Negative balance (more Losses) |
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Honours
Regional
- COSAFA Cup
- Runners-up (2): 2016, 2019
Awards
References
External links
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