Botswana national football team

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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 146 Decrease 1 (15 February 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)

The Botswana national football team 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]

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]

24 March 2023 AFCON qualification Equatorial Guinea  2–0  Botswana Malabo, Equatorial Guinea
20:00 UTC+1
  • Coco 20'
  • Bikoro 66'
Report Stadium: Estadio de Malabo
Referee: Adalbert Diouf (Senegal)
7 September 2023 AFCON qualification Tunisia  3–0  Botswana Radès, Tunisia
20:00 UTC+1
Report Stadium: Stade Hammadi Agrebi
Referee: Issa Sy (Senegal)
30 September Friendly Botswana  1–1  Zimbabwe
16 October Friendly Botswana  2–1  Eswatini
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]

Coaching history[edit]

Caretaker managers are listed in italics.

Players[edit]

Current squad[edit]

The following players were called up for the friendly against Mozambique on 8 January 2024.[4]

Caps and goals correct as of 21 November 2023, after the match against Guinea

No. Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club
1GK Kabelo Dambe (1990-05-10) 10 May 1990 (age 33) 63 0 Botswana Township Rollers
1GK Goitseone Phoko (1994-12-13) 13 December 1994 (age 29) 22 1 Botswana Gaborone United
1GK Kenneth Moko 0 0

2DF Mosha Gaolaolwe (1993-12-25) 25 December 1993 (age 30) 73 1 Botswana Township Rollers
2DF Mothusi Johnson (1997-07-28) 28 July 1997 (age 26) 22 0 Botswana Gaborone United
2DF Alfred Velaphi (1999-01-18) 18 January 1999 (age 25) 19 0 Botswana Gaborone United
2DF Tebogo Kopelang (2000-04-24) 24 April 2000 (age 23) 15 0 Botswana Security Systems
2DF Kitso Mangolo (1999-01-06) 6 January 1999 (age 25) 15 1 Botswana Jwaneng Galaxy

3MF Mpho Kgaswane (1994-06-13) 13 June 1994 (age 29) 20 2 Botswana Gaborone United
3MF Gape Mohutsiwa (1997-03-20) 20 March 1997 (age 26) 19 2 Algeria ASO Chlef
3MF Thabo Leinanyane (1993-07-27) 27 July 1993 (age 30) 17 0 Botswana Jwaneng Galaxy
3MF Olebogeng Ramotse (1998-01-17) 17 January 1998 (age 26) 4 0 Botswana Masitaoka
3MF Motsholetsi Sikele (1991-12-01) 1 December 1991 (age 32) 2 0 Botswana Township Rollers
3MF Phenyo Serameng (1996-09-27) 27 September 1996 (age 27) 1 0 Botswana Township Rollers
3MF Christopher Lemme 0 0

4FW Kabelo Seakanyeng (1993-06-25) 25 June 1993 (age 30) 56 8 Morocco Olympique Khouribga
4FW Tumisang Orebonye (1996-03-26) 26 March 1996 (age 27) 43 5 Algeria USM Alger
4FW Thatayaone Kgamanyane (1996-01-30) 30 January 1996 (age 28) 26 5 Botswana Gaborone United
4FW Thabang Sesinyi (1992-10-15) 15 October 1992 (age 31) 18 2 Botswana Jwaneng Galaxy
4FW Molaodi Tlhalefang (1997-07-07) 7 July 1997 (age 26) 7 1 Botswana Miscellaneous SC Serowe
4FW Eric Ookame (2001-04-03) 3 April 2001 (age 22) 3 0 Botswana Eleven Angels

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 Lesenya Malapela (1996-07-10) 10 July 1996 (age 27) 7 0 Botswana Orapa United 2023 COSAFA Cup
GK Thabo Motswagole (2000-04-22) 22 April 2000 (age 23) 1 0 Botswana Masitaoka 2023 COSAFA Cup
GK Kabelo Maphakela (1998-11-28) 28 November 1998 (age 25) 0 0 Botswana Township Rollers v.  Libya, 17 June 2023
GK Ezekiel Morake (1996-03-21) 21 March 1996 (age 27) 10 0 Ethiopia Ethiopian Coffee v.  Equatorial Guinea, 28 March 2023

DF Thato Kebue (1997-05-29) 29 May 1997 (age 26) 34 2 Botswana Gaborone United v.  Guinea, 21 November 2023
DF Thatayaone Ditlhokwe (1998-09-21) 21 September 1998 (age 25) 29 2 South Africa Kaizer Chiefs v.  Guinea, 21 November 2023
DF Thabo Babutsi (2000-07-24) 24 July 2000 (age 23) 3 0 Botswana Township Rollers v.  Zimbabwe, 30 September 2023
DF Goitseone Legopelo (1997-06-02) 2 June 1997 (age 26) 5 0 Botswana Uniao Flamengo Santos 2023 COSAFA Cup
DF Thabang Khuduga (1999-03-24) 24 March 1999 (age 24) 1 0 Botswana Masitaoka 2023 COSAFA Cup
DF Leruo Ratala (1998-10-03) 3 October 1998 (age 25) 0 0 Botswana Gaborone United v.  Libya, 17 June 2023
DF Moagi Sechele (1992-11-07) 7 November 1992 (age 31) 1 0 Botswana Jwaneng Galaxy v.  Equatorial Guinea, 28 March 2023

MF Lebogang Ditsele (1996-04-20) 20 April 1996 (age 27) 54 3 Botswana Gaborone United v.  Guinea, 21 November 2023
MF Mothusi Cooper (1997-07-19) 19 July 1997 (age 26) 25 0 Botswana Gaborone United v.  Guinea, 21 November 2023
MF Godiraone Modingwane (1996-06-26) 26 June 1996 (age 27) 17 0 Botswana Botswana Defence Force v.  Guinea, 21 November 2023
MF Oarabile Sekwai (1998-11-28) 28 November 1998 (age 25) 2 0 Botswana Police XI v.  Guinea, 21 November 2023
MF Gofaone Mabaya (1995-08-31) 31 August 1995 (age 28) 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 20) 1 0 Botswana Jwaneng Galaxy v.  Zimbabwe, 30 September 2023
MF Gape Thibedi (2000-02-02) 2 February 2000 (age 24) 10 0 Botswana Gaborone United 2023 COSAFA Cup
MF Obakeng Ramotlhwa (1999-07-26) 26 July 1999 (age 24) 1 0 Botswana Masitaoka 2023 COSAFA Cup
MF Shaun Theron (2003-03-11) 11 March 2003 (age 21) 0 0 Botswana Jwaneng Galaxy 2023 COSAFA Cup
MF Omphile Vissage (1996-11-28) 28 November 1996 (age 27) 0 0 Botswana Township Rollers v.  Libya, 17 June 2023
MF Brandon Wilson (1997-01-28) 28 January 1997 (age 27) 0 0 Vietnam Hanoi v.  Guinea, 21 November 2023

FW Tawana Mbakile (2000-07-14) 14 July 2000 (age 23) 4 0 Botswana Security Systems v.  Guinea, 21 November 2023
FW Monty Enosa (2004-02-06) 6 February 2004 (age 20) 5 0 Botswana Masitaoka v.  Zimbabwe, 30 September 2023
FW Lethabo Ogotseng (2002-11-17) 17 November 2002 (age 21) 0 0 Botswana Masitaoka 2023 COSAFA Cup
FW Omaatla Kebatho (1993-06-16) 16 June 1993 (age 30) 22 2 Botswana Orapa United v.  Libya, 17 June 2023
FW Thero Setsile (1995-10-08) 8 October 1995 (age 28) 31 3 Botswana Gaborone United v.  Equatorial Guinea, 28 March 2023
FW Onkabetse Makgantai (1995-07-01) 1 July 1995 (age 28) 27 10 Botswana Orapa United v.  Equatorial Guinea, 28 March 2023
FW Mbatshi Elias (1995-07-10) 10 July 1995 (age 28) 11 1 Botswana Township Rollers v.  Equatorial Guinea, 28 March 2023

Player records[edit]

As of 21 November 2023[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 Ndiapo Letsholathebe 78 0 2003–2013
5 Tshepo Motlhabankwe 76 2 2003–2013
6 Mogogi Gabonamong 74 4 1999–2015
7 Mosha Gaolaolwe 73 1 2013–present
8 Dipsy Selolwane 68 18 1998–2012
9 Lemponye Tshireletso 64 11 2009–2020
10 Kabelo Dambe 63 0 2011–present

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
6 Moemedi Moatlhaping 9 50 0.18 2004–2013
7 Tshepiso Molwantwa 8 44 0.18 1998–2006
Kabelo Seakanyeng 8 56 0.14 2014–present
9 Pontsho Moloi 7 50 0.14 2004–2012
10 Thatayaone Kgamanyane 5 26 0.19 2017–present
Tumisang Orebonye 5 43 0.12 2017–present
Mogakolodi Ngele 5 49 0.1 2009–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
Mexico 1970 to Argentina 1978 Not a FIFA member Not a FIFA member
Spain 1982 Did not enter Declined participation
Mexico 1986
Italy 1990
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 2 1 0 1 3 3
Morocco Portugal Spain 2030 To be determined
Saudi Arabia 2034
Total 0/11 38 11 6 21 36 56

Africa Cup of Nations[edit]

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
Total Group stage 1/36 3 0 0 3 2 9

COSAFA Cup[edit]

Head-to-head record[edit]

As of 18 November 2019 after match against  Algeria[6]

Key
Positive balance (more Wins)
Neutral balance (Wins = Losses)
Negative balance (more Losses)
Opponent
Pld
W
D
L
GF
GA
GD
 Algeria 1 0 0 1 0 1 −1
 Angola 12 1 6 5 5 13 −8
 Burkina Faso 6 2 1 3 3 7 −4
 Burundi 4 2 1 1 2 1 +1
 Central African Republic 2 1 0 1 3 4 −1
 Cameroon 1 0 1 0 0 0 0
 Chad 2 2 0 0 2 0 +2
 China 2 0 0 2 1 6 −5
 Comoros 3 1 1 1 2 2 0
 DR Congo 5 0 3 2 0 4 −4
 Egypt 6 0 2 4 1 7 −6
 Equatorial Guinea 1 1 0 0 2 0 +2
 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 5 0 0 5 2 18 −16
 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 30 14 11 5 35 23 +12
 Liberia 1 0 1 0 0 0 0
 Libya 3 0 2 1 0 1 −1
 Madagascar 6 2 1 3 4 5 −1
 Malawi 25 5 8 12 21 47 −26
 Mali 7 1 0 6 5 19 −14
 Mauritania 4 1 0 3 3 8 −5
 Mauritius 3 1 1 1 6 1 +5
 Morocco 2 0 0 2 0 2 −2
 Mozambique 21 4 4 13 15 31 −16
 Namibia 19 7 10 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
 Seychelles 3 3 0 0 7 1 +6
 South Africa 15 0 5 10 8 25 −17
 South Sudan 1 1 0 0 3 0 +3
 Swaziland 23 12 6 5 36 21 +15
 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 6 2 1 3 5 9 −4
 Uganda 5 0 2 3 2 7 −5
 Zambia 22 3 6 13 8 34 −26
 Zimbabwe 17 4 4 9 8 21 −13
Total 303 80 82 141 245 388 −143

References[edit]

  1. ^ "The FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking". FIFA. 15 February 2024. Retrieved 15 February 2024.
  2. ^ Elo rankings change compared to one year ago. "World Football Elo Ratings". eloratings.net. 15 February 2024. Retrieved 15 February 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.

External links[edit]