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Botswana national football team

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This article is about the men's team. For the women's team, see Botswana women's national football team.

Botswana
Shirt badge/Association crest
Nickname(s)Dipitse (The Zebras)
AssociationBFA
ConfederationCAF (Africa)
Sub-confederationCOSAFA (Southern Africa)
Head coachDidier Gomes Da Rosa
CaptainThatayaone Ditlhokwe
Most capsJoel Mogorosi (92)
Top scorerJerome Ramatlhakwane (24)
Home stadiumBotswana National Stadium
FIFA codeBOT
First colours
Second colours
Third colours
FIFA ranking
Current 140 Increase 7 (24 October 2024)[1]
Highest53 (December 2010)
Lowest165 (November 1999 – February 2000)
First international
 Malawi 8–1 Botswana 
(Malawi; 13 July 1968)
Biggest win
 Botswana 6–0 Mauritius 
(Polokwane, South Africa; 1 June 2018)
Biggest defeat
 Malawi 8–1 Botswana 
(Malawi; 13 July 1968)
 Botswana 0–7 Zimbabwe 
(Gaborone, Botswana; 26 August 1990)
Africa Cup of Nations
Appearances1 (first in 2012)
Best resultGroup Stage (2012)
COSAFA Cup
Appearances19 (first in 1997)
Best resultRunners-up (2016, 2019)
Medal record
COSAFA Cup
Silver medal – second place 2016 Namibia Team
Silver medal – second place 2019 South Africa

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). It qualified for the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations.[3]

History

[edit]

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.

Results and fixtures

[edit]
See also: Botswana national football team results (2020 to present)

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

2023

[edit]
16 October Friendly Botswana  2–1  Eswatini
16 November 2026 World Cup qualification Botswana  2–3  Mozambique Francistown, Botswana
15:00 UTC+2
Report
Stadium: Obed Itani Chilume Stadium
Referee: Peter Waweru (Kenya)
21 November 2026 World Cup qualification Botswana  1–0  Guinea Francistown, Botswana
15:00 UTC+2
Report Stadium: Obed Itani Chilume Stadium
Referee: Patrice Tanguy Mebiame (Gabon)

2024

[edit]
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
Stadium: Mahamasina Municipal Stadium
25 March Friendly Burundi  0–0  Botswana Antananarivo, Madagascar
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
31 August Friendly Libya  1–0  Botswana Tripoli, Libya
18:00 UTC+2 Krawa'a 54' (pen.) Report Stadium: Tripoli 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)

2025

[edit]
March 2025 (2025-03) 2026 World Cup qualification Botswana  v  Algeria
March 2025 (2025-03) 2026 World Cup qualification Botswana  v  Somalia
September 2025 (2025-09) 2026 World Cup qualification Algeria  v  Botswana
September 2025 (2025-09) 2026 World Cup qualification Mozambique  v  Botswana
October 2025 (2025-10) 2026 World Cup qualification Botswana  v  Uganda
October 2025 (2025-10) 2026 World Cup qualification Guinea  v  Botswana

Coaching history

[edit]
Caretaker managers are listed in italics.

Players

[edit]

Current squad

[edit]

The following players were called up for the 2024 COSAFA Cup.[4]

Caps and goals correct as of 26 June 2024, after the match against Eswatini

No. Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club
1GK Victor James (2002-08-27) 27 August 2002 (age 22) 1 0 Botswana Masitaoka
1GK Karamelo Kgosipula (2003-02-06) 6 February 2003 (age 21) 0 0 Botswana Matebele
1GK Kenneth Mmoko (1999-10-13) 13 October 1999 (age 25) 0 0 Botswana Sua Flamingoes
1GK Jovan Nikolic (2001-09-09) 9 September 2001 (age 23) 0 0 Portugal Marinhense
2DF Tebogo Kopelang (2000-04-24) 24 April 2000 (age 24) 21 0 Botswana Security Systems
2DF Kitso Mangolo (1999-01-06) 6 January 1999 (age 25) 20 1 Tanzania Ihefu
2DF Thabo Babutsi (2000-07-24) 24 July 2000 (age 24) 3 0 Botswana Township Rollers
2DF Atamelang Lesogo 1 0 Botswana Orapa United
2DF Botsile Sakana (2001-01-26) 26 January 2001 (age 23) 1 0 Botswana Masitaoka
2DF Obakeng Senono (1999-09-29) 29 September 1999 (age 25) 1 0 Botswana Masitaoka
2DF Leruo Ratala (2002-03-28) 28 March 2002 (age 22) 0 0 Botswana Gaborone United
2DF Bonno Sepako 0 0 Botswana UB Hawks
3MF Gape Thibedi (2000-02-02) 2 February 2000 (age 24) 11 0 Botswana Gaborone United
3MF Olebogeng Ramotse (1998-01-17) 17 January 1998 (age 26) 9 0 Botswana Masitaoka
3MF Tawana Mbakile (2000-07-14) 14 July 2000 (age 24) 5 0 Botswana Security Systems
3MF Obakeng Ramotlhwa (1999-07-26) 26 July 1999 (age 25) 1 0 Botswana Masitaoka
3MF Ricky Ratlhogo (2000-12-08) 8 December 2000 (age 23) 1 0 Botswana Orapa United
3MF Ofentse Mbaiwa (2003-06-10) 10 June 2003 (age 21) 0 0 Botswana Eleven Angels
3MF Boniface Ramolale (2002-04-03) 3 April 2002 (age 22) 0 0 Botswana Masitaoka
3MF Shaun Theron (2003-03-11) 11 March 2003 (age 21) 0 0 Botswana Jwaneng Galaxy
4FW Molaodi Tlhalefang (1997-07-07) 7 July 1997 (age 27) 11 2 Botswana Miscellaneous SC Serowe
4FW Eric Ookame (2001-04-03) 3 April 2001 (age 23) 4 0 Botswana Eleven Angels
4FW Oarabile Sekwai (1998-11-28) 28 November 1998 (age 25) 4 0 Botswana Police XI
4FW Lizo Skweyiya (2004-01-01) 1 January 2004 (age 20) 4 0 South Africa Orlando Pirates
4FW Thabiso Bante (1995-04-25) 25 April 1995 (age 29) 2 0 Botswana TAFIC
4FW Tshepo Keselebale 2 0 Botswana Security Systems
4FW Bame Morwalela (1999-03-25) 25 March 1999 (age 25) 2 1 Botswana Township Rollers

Recent call-ups

[edit]

The following players were last called up within the last twelve months.

Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club Latest call-up
GK Kabelo Dambe (1990-05-10) 10 May 1990 (age 34) 63 0 Botswana Township Rollers v.  Somalia, 10 June 2024
GK Goitseone Phoko (1994-12-13) 13 December 1994 (age 29) 27 1 Botswana Gaborone United v.  Somalia, 10 June 2024
GK Thabo Motswagole (2000-04-22) 22 April 2000 (age 24) 1 0 Botswana Masitaoka v.  Somalia, 10 June 2024
DF Mosha Gaolaolwe (1993-12-25) 25 December 1993 (age 30) 79 2 Botswana Township Rollers v.  Somalia, 10 June 2024
DF Thatayaone Ditlhokwe (1998-09-21) 21 September 1998 (age 26) 31 2 South Africa Kaizer Chiefs v.  Somalia, 10 June 2024
DF Alfred Velaphi (1999-01-18) 18 January 1999 (age 25) 23 0 Botswana Gaborone United v.  Somalia, 10 June 2024
DF Motsholetsi Sikele (1991-12-01) 1 December 1991 (age 32) 4 0 Botswana Township Rollers v.  Somalia, 10 June 2024
DF Mothusi Johnson (1997-07-28) 28 July 1997 (age 27) 24 0 Botswana Gaborone United v.  Burundi, 25 March 2024
DF Thato Kebue (1997-05-29) 29 May 1997 (age 27) 34 2 Botswana Gaborone United v.  Guinea, 21 November 2023
MF Gape Mohutsiwa (1997-03-20) 20 March 1997 (age 27) 22 2 Algeria ASO Chlef v.  Somalia, 10 June 2024
MF Godiraone Modingwane (1996-06-26) 26 June 1996 (age 28) 19 0 Botswana Botswana Defence Force v.  Somalia, 10 June 2024
MF Gilbert Baruti (1992-03-16) 16 March 1992 (age 32) 9 0 Botswana Jwaneng Galaxy v.  Somalia, 10 June 2024
MF Phenyo Serameng (1996-09-27) 27 September 1996 (age 28) 4 0 Botswana Township Rollers v.  Somalia, 10 June 2024
MF Koketso Majafi (1992-11-07) 7 November 1992 (age 31) 1 0 Botswana Orapa United v.  Somalia, 10 June 2024
MF Mpho Kgaswane (1994-06-13) 13 June 1994 (age 30) 21 2 Botswana Gaborone United v.  Burundi, 25 March 2024
MF Christopher Lemme (1995-11-05) 5 November 1995 (age 28) 3 0 Botswana Security Systems v.  Burundi, 25 March 2024
MF Thabo Leinanyane (1993-07-27) 27 July 1993 (age 31) 17 0 Botswana Jwaneng Galaxy v.  Mozambique, 8 January 2024
MF Lebogang Ditsele (1996-04-20) 20 April 1996 (age 28) 54 3 Botswana Gaborone United v.  Guinea, 21 November 2023
MF Mothusi Cooper (1997-07-19) 19 July 1997 (age 27) 25 0 Botswana Gaborone United v.  Guinea, 21 November 2023
MF Brandon Wilson (1997-01-28) 28 January 1997 (age 27) 0 0 Vietnam Hanoi v.  Guinea, 21 November 2023
MF Gofaone Mabaya (1995-08-31) 31 August 1995 (age 29) 18 0 Botswana Orapa United v.  Zimbabwe, 30 September 2023
MF Lemogang Maswena (1991-02-05) 5 February 1991 (age 33) 7 1 Botswana Jwaneng Galaxy v.  Zimbabwe, 30 September 2023
MF Thabang Aphiri (2003-08-03) 3 August 2003 (age 21) 1 0 Botswana Jwaneng Galaxy v.  Zimbabwe, 30 September 2023
FW Kabelo Seakanyeng (1993-06-25) 25 June 1993 (age 31) 61 10 Morocco Olympique Khouribga v.  Somalia, 10 June 2024
FW Tumisang Orebonye (1996-03-26) 26 March 1996 (age 28) 48 5 Morocco AS FAR v.  Somalia, 10 June 2024
FW Segolame Boy (1992-11-07) 7 November 1992 (age 31) 40 4 Botswana Township Rollers v.  Somalia, 10 June 2024
FW Thabang Sesinyi (1992-10-15) 15 October 1992 (age 32) 23 3 Botswana Jwaneng Galaxy v.  Somalia, 10 June 2024
FW Thatayaone Kgamanyane (1996-01-30) 30 January 1996 (age 28) 26 5 Botswana Gaborone United v.  Mozambique, 8 January 2024
FW Monty Enosa (2004-02-06) 6 February 2004 (age 20) 5 0 Botswana Masitaoka v.  Zimbabwe, 30 September 2023

Player records

[edit]
As of 15 October 2024[5]
Players in bold are still active with Botswana.

Most appearances

[edit]
Rank Player Caps Goals Career
1 Joel Mogorosi 92 16 2005–2019
2 Mompati Thuma 86 1 2004–2013
3 Modiri Marumo 85 0 1997–2015
4 Mosha Gaolaolwe 84 2 2013–present
5 Ndiapo Letsholathebe 78 0 2003–2013
6 Tshepo Motlhabankwe 76 2 2003–2013
7 Mogogi Gabonamong 74 4 1999–2015
8 Dipsy Selolwane 68 18 1998–2012
9 Kabelo Seakanyeng 66 10 2014–present
10 Lemponye Tshireletso 64 11 2009–2020

Top goalscorers

[edit]
Rank Player Goals Caps Ratio Career
1 Jerome Ramatlhakwane 24 61 0.39 2006–2018
2 Dipsy Selolwane 18 68 0.26 1998–2012
3 Joel Mogorosi 16 92 0.17 2005–2019
4 Lemponye Tshireletso 11 64 0.17 2009–2020
5 Onkabetse Makgantai 10 27 0.37 2014–2021
Kabelo Seakanyeng 10 66 0.15 2014–present
7 Moemedi Moatlhaping 9 50 0.18 2004–2013
8 Tshepiso Molwantwa 8 44 0.18 1998–2006
9 Pontsho Moloi 7 50 0.14 2004–2012
10 Tumisang Orebonye 6 53 0.1 2017–present

Competitive records

[edit]

FIFA World Cup

[edit]
FIFA World Cup record Qualification record
Year Round Position Pld W D* L GF GA Pld W D L GF GA
1970 to 1978 Not a FIFA member Not a FIFA member
1982 to 1990 Did not enter Declined participation
United States 1994 Did not qualify 4 0 1 3 1 9
France 1998 Did not enter Did not enter
South Korea Japan 2002 Did not qualify 2 0 0 2 0 2
Germany 2006 12 4 1 7 14 19
South Africa 2010 6 1 2 3 3 8
Brazil 2014 6 2 1 3 8 10
Russia 2018 4 3 0 1 7 4
Qatar 2022 2 0 1 1 0 1
Canada Mexico United States 2026 To be determined 4 2 0 2 6 5
Morocco Portugal Spain 2030 To be determined
Saudi Arabia 2034
Total 0/11 40 12 6 22 39 58

Africa Cup of Nations

[edit]
Main article: Botswana at the Africa Cup of Nations
Africa Cup of Nations record Qualification record
Year Round Position Pld W D L GF GA Pld W D L GF GA
Sudan 1957 Part of  United Kingdom Part of  United Kingdom
United Arab Republic 1959
Ethiopia 1962
Ghana 1963
Tunisia 1965
Ethiopia 1968 Not affiliated to CAF Not affiliated to CAF
Sudan 1970
Egypt 1974
Ethiopia 1976
Ghana 1978 Did not enter Did not enter
Nigeria 1980
Libya 1982
Ivory Coast 1984
Egypt 1986
Morocco 1988
Algeria 1990
Senegal 1992
Tunisia 1994 Did not qualify
South Africa 1996
Burkina Faso 1998
Ghana Nigeria 2000
Mali 2002
Tunisia 2004
Egypt 2006
Ghana 2008
Angola 2010
Equatorial Guinea Gabon 2012 Group stage 14th 3 0 0 3 2 9
South Africa 2013 Did not qualify
Equatorial Guinea 2015
Gabon 2017
Egypt 2019
Cameroon 2021
Ivory Coast 2023
Morocco 2025 To be determined To be determined
Kenya Tanzania Uganda 2027
2029
Total Group stage 1/34 3 0 0 3 2 9

COSAFA Cup

[edit]
Main article: COSAFA Cup

Head-to-head record

[edit]

As of 15 October 2024 after match against  Cape Verde[6]

Key
Positive balance (more Wins)
Neutral balance (Wins = Losses)
Negative balance (more Losses)
Opponent
 Pld
 W
 D
 L
 GF
 GA
 GD
 Algeria 2 0 0 2 0 6 −6
 Angola 14 2 6 6 6 14 −8
 Burkina Faso 6 2 1 3 3 7 −4
 Burundi 5 2 2 1 2 1 +1
 Central African Republic 2 1 0 1 3 4 −1
 Cameroon 1 0 1 0 0 0 0
 Cape Verde 2 2 0 0 2 0 +2
 Chad 2 2 0 0 2 0 +2
 China 2 0 0 2 1 6 −5
 Comoros 4 2 1 1 3 2 +1
 DR Congo 5 0 3 2 0 4 −4
 Egypt 7 0 2 5 1 11 −10
 Equatorial Guinea 3 1 0 2 4 5 –1
 Eritrea 2 2 0 0 5 1 +4
 Ethiopia 4 2 0 2 7 4 +3
 Gabon 1 0 1 0 0 0 0
 Ghana 2 0 1 1 0 1 −1
 Guinea 6 1 0 5 3 18 −15
 Guinea-Bissau 2 1 1 0 3 1 +2
 Iran 1 0 1 0 1 1 0
 Iraq 1 0 1 0 1 1 0
 Ivory Coast 4 0 2 2 1 11 −10
 Kenya 7 3 0 4 7 10 −3
 Lesotho 31 15 11 5 39 23 +16
 Liberia 1 0 1 1 1 3 −2
 Libya 5 1 2 2 1 2 −1
 Madagascar 8 1 2 3 4 5 −1
 Malawi 25 5 8 12 21 47 −26
 Mali 7 1 0 6 5 19 −14
 Mauritania 5 1 0 4 3 9 −6
 Mauritius 3 1 1 1 6 1 +5
 Morocco 2 0 0 2 0 2 −2
 Mozambique 24 5 5 14 19 38 −19
 Namibia 20 7 11 2 19 18 +1
 New Zealand 1 0 1 0 0 0 0
 Niger 3 0 1 2 2 4 −2
 Nigeria 1 0 1 0 0 0 0
 Senegal 2 0 0 2 0 5 −5
 Rwanda 1 0 1 0 0 0 0
 Seychelles 4 4 0 0 8 1 +7
 Somalia 1 1 0 0 3 1 +2
 South Africa 20 0 6 14 10 31 −21
 South Sudan 1 1 0 0 3 0 +3
 Swaziland 31 16 10 5 45 25 +20
 Sweden 1 0 0 1 1 2 −1
 Tanzania 5 1 2 2 7 9 −2
 Togo 2 1 0 1 2 2 0
 Trinidad and Tobago 1 0 1 0 0 0 0
 Tunisia 8 2 2 4 5 12 −7
 Uganda 6 0 2 4 2 8 −6
 Zambia 26 4 7 15 12 39 −27
 Zimbabwe 19 4 5 10 9 23 −14
Total 349 94 95 160 282 436 −154

Honours

[edit]

Regional

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "The FIFA/Coca-Cola Men's World Ranking". FIFA. 24 October 2024. Retrieved 24 October 2024.
  2. ^ Elo rankings change compared to one year ago. "World Football Elo Ratings". eloratings.net. 16 October 2024. Retrieved 16 October 2024.
  3. ^ "BBC Sport – Football – Minnows Botswana qualify for Africa Cup of Nations". BBC News. 2011-03-26. Archived from the original on 2023-04-04. Retrieved 2013-11-15.
  4. ^ "Final Squad". Twitter. Botswana Football Association.
  5. ^ "Botswana – Record International Players". RSSSF. Archived from the original on 2022-07-10. Retrieved 2017-02-02.
  6. ^ "World Football Elo Ratings: Botswana". Elo Ratings. Archived from the original on 12 February 2018. Retrieved 9 August 2017.
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