Botswana national football team
Nickname(s) | Dipitse (The Zebras) | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Association | Botswana Football Association | |||
Confederation | CAF (Africa) | |||
Sub-confederation | COSAFA (Southern Africa) | |||
Head coach | David Bright | |||
Captain | Joel Mogorosi | |||
Most caps | Mompati Thuma (84) | |||
Top scorer | Jerome Ramatlhakwane (24) | |||
Home stadium | Botswana National Stadium | |||
FIFA code | BOT | |||
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FIFA ranking | ||||
Current | 142 3 (20 September 2018) | |||
Highest | 53 (December 2010) | |||
Lowest | 165 (November 1999 – February 2000) | |||
First international | ||||
Malawi 8–1 Botswana (Malawi; July 13, 1968) | ||||
Biggest win | ||||
Botswana 6–0 Mauritius (Polokwane, South Africa; June 1, 2018) | ||||
Biggest defeat | ||||
Malawi 8–1 Botswana (Malawi; July 13, 1968) Botswana 0–7 Zimbabwe (Gaborone, Botswana; August 26, 1990) | ||||
Africa Cup of Nations | ||||
Appearances | 1 (first in 2012) | |||
Best result | Group stage, 2012 |
The Botswana national football team, nicknamed 'The Zebras' (Setswana: Dipitse) is the national football team of Botswana and is controlled by the Botswana Football Association. They have never qualified for the World Cup but they did qualify for the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations[1] for the first time in their history.
History
Although Botswana have entered the FIFA World Cup preliminary stages five times, it took them nearly eleven years after playing their first match to register their first victory which was a 4–1 victory in the African pre-preliminary qualifying rounds for Germany 2006 against Lesotho.[citation needed]
The southern African nation took part in their first preliminary competition for the 1994 World Cup in the United States, where they faced Niger and Ivory Coast. They managed a 0–0 draw with the latter in Gaborone, but lost their other three matches, finishing last in their group.
The next competition they entered was for the 2002 World Cup, where they faced Zambia in a two-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 suffered some poor results with the team losing 3–0 to Zambia, and losing to second-string sides from South Africa and Zimbabwe at home in Gaborone, frustrating many supporters. A draw with Madagascar which was ranked at 146th in the world at the time, led Botswana FA to sack manager Colwyn Rowe, despite him leading Botswana to their then-highest ever FIFA ranking of 95th. The BFA claimed this move was taken because they feared for his safety from angry fans. Stanley Tshosane was named as his replacement and in his first game in charge, Botswana achieved an impressive 2–1 win away to Mozambique to put them in a relatively strong position in their qualifying group. Despite also achieving a creditable draw with Ivory Coast, Botswana finished bottom of their qualifying group for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.
This disappointment was followed by the most successful period in Botswana's history. Botswana defied their ranking to become the first team to qualify for the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations, beating Tunisia both at home and away. This success coincided with a rise to their highest ever FIFA ranking of 53rd. They did not manage to build upon this upturn in form at the tournament, losing narrowly to Ghana and Mali and heavily to Guinea to finish bottom of their group with zero points.
The truncated qualification format for the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations saw them face Mali in a two-legged tie, which they lost 7–1 on aggregate. They then failed to qualify for the 2014 World Cup, finishing third in their group with seven points behind South Africa and Ethiopia.
In October 2013, the Botswana Football Association sacked Tshosane, citing his "failing to meet the targets set for him".[2] They subsequently appointed Englishman Peter Butler in February 2014.[3]
Since then, the qualification to major tournaments has continued to elude Botswana. Despite beating Burundi and Guinea-Bissau in the knockout rounds, they finished last in their difficult qualifying group for the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations with just a single point. In their qualifying group for the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations, they finished third - seven points behind qualifiers Burkina Faso and Uganda. In the qualifiers for the 2018 World Cup, they beat Eritrea in the first round and won 2−1 at home against Mali in the first leg of the second round. However, 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 fourth time after the BFA chose not to renew Butler's contract.[4]
Competition records
World Cup record
FIFA World Cup record | FIFA World Cup Qualification record | ||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Year | Round | Position | Pld | W | D* | L | GF | GA | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | |
1930 to 1990 | Did not enter | Did not enter | |||||||||||||
1994 | Did not qualify | 4 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 9 | ||||||||
1998 | Did not enter | Did not enter | |||||||||||||
2002 | Did not qualify | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | ||||||||
2006 | 12 | 4 | 1 | 7 | 14 | 19 | |||||||||
2010 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 8 | |||||||||
2014 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 8 | 10 | |||||||||
2018 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 7 | 4 | |||||||||
2022 | To be determined | To be determined | |||||||||||||
2026 | |||||||||||||||
Total | 0/21 | 34 | 10 | 5 | 19 | 32 | 42 |
Africa Cup of Nations record
Africa Cup of Nations | ||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Year | Round | Position | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA |
1957 to 1992 | Did not enter | |||||||
1994 to 2010 | Did not qualify | |||||||
2012 | Round 1 | 14 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 9 |
2013 to 2017 | Did not qualify | |||||||
2019 | To be determined | |||||||
2021 | ||||||||
2023 | ||||||||
Total | Round 1 | 1/31 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 9 |
All-time record against other nations
As of 30 September 2018[5]
Positive Record Neutral Record Negative Record
Opponent |
Pld |
W |
D |
L |
GF |
GA |
GD |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Angola | 11 | 1 | 6 | 4 | 5 | 12 | −7 |
Burkina Faso | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 4 | −1 |
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 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 6 | −5 |
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 | 29 | 13 | 11 | 5 | 33 | 22 | +11 |
Libya | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | −1 |
Madagascar | 6 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 5 | −1 |
Malawi | 23 | 5 | 7 | 11 | 21 | 46 | −25 |
Mali | 7 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 5 | 19 | −14 |
Mauritania | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 6 | −4 |
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 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | +2 |
South Africa | 13 | 0 | 4 | 9 | 6 | 20 | −14 |
South Sudan | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | +3 |
Eswatini | 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 | 19 | 3 | 5 | 11 | 6 | 30 | −24 |
Zimbabwe | 16 | 4 | 3 | 9 | 8 | 21 | −13 |
Total | 285 | 77 | 76 | 132 | 233 | 368 | −135 |
Recent results and fixtures
1 July 2017 2017 COSAFA Cup QF | Botswana | 1–2 | Zambia | Phokeng, South Africa |
15:00 SAST |
|
Report | Stadium: Royal Bafokeng Stadium Referee: Ahmad Imtehaz Heeralall (Mauritius) |
4 July 2017 2017 COSAFA Cup PSF | Botswana | 0–2 | South Africa | Moruleng, South Africa |
17:00 SAST | Report | Stadium: Moruleng Stadium Referee: Andofetra Rakotojaona (Madagascar) |
15 July 2017 2018 CHANQ | Botswana | 0–2 | South Africa | Francistown, Botswana |
15:30 SAST | Report | Stadium: Francistown Stadium Referee: Wellington Kaoma (Zambia) |
22 July 2017 2018 CHANQ | South Africa | 1–0 (3–0 agg.) | Botswana | Moruleng, South Africa |
15:00 SAST |
|
Report | Stadium: Moruleng Stadium Referee: Osiase Koto (Lesotho) |
30 September 2017 Friendly | Botswana | 2–0 | Ethiopia | Gaborone, Botswana |
16:20 SAST |
|
Report | Stadium: Botswana National Stadium |
14 November 2017 Friendly | Gabon | 0–0 | Botswana | Franceville, Gabon |
16:30 WAT | Report | Stadium: Stade de Franceville Referee: Louis Hakizimana (Rwanda) |
24 March 2018 Friendly | Botswana | 1–0 | Lesotho | Gaborone, Botswana |
16:00 SAST |
|
Report | Stadium: Botswana National Stadium Referee: Tshepo Mokani Gobagoba (Botswana) |
28 May 2018 2018 COSAFA Cup GS | Botswana | 2–1 | Angola | Polokwane, South Africa |
17:00 SAST |
|
Report |
|
Stadium: Old Peter Mokaba Stadium Referee: Hamada Nampiandraza (Madagascar) |
30 May 2018 2018 COSAFA Cup GS | Malawi | 1–1 | Botswana | Polokwane, South Africa |
16:30 SAST | Sambani 7' | Report | Seakanyeng 88' | Stadium: Old Peter Mokaba Stadium Referee: Celso Alvação (Mozambique) |
1 June 2018 2018 COSAFA Cup GS | Botswana | 6–0 | Mauritius | Polokwane, South Africa |
17:30 SAST |
|
Report | Stadium: Old Peter Mokaba Stadium Referee: Jackson Pavaza (Namibia) |
3 June 2018 2018 COSAFA Cup QF | Zimbabwe | 1–1 (a.e.t.) (3–1 p) | Botswana | Polokwane, South Africa |
17:30 SAST | Rusike 39' | Report | Makgantai 60' | Stadium: Peter Mokaba Stadium Referee: Hélder Martins De Carvalho (Angola) |
Penalties | ||||
5 June 2018 2018 COSAFA Cup PSF | Eswatini | 0–2 | Botswana | Polokwane, South Africa |
19:30 SAST | Report | Stadium: Old Peter Mokaba Stadium Referee: Bernard Camille (Seychelles) |
8 June 2018 2018 COSAFA Cup PF | South Africa | 3–0 | Botswana | Polokwane, South Africa |
17:00 SAST | Report | Stadium: Peter Mokaba Stadium Referee: Hamada Nampiandraza (Madagascar) |
9 September 2018 2019 AFCONQ | Angola | 1–0 | Botswana | Luanda, Angola |
16:00 WAT |
|
Report | Stadium: Estádio 11 de Novembro Referee: Bakary Gassama (Gambia) |
13 October 2018 2019 AFCONQ | Burkina Faso | 3–0 | Botswana | Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso |
18:00 GMT | Report | Stadium: Stade du 4 Août Referee: Bienvenu Sinko (Ivory Coast) |
16 October 2018 2019 AFCONQ | Botswana | v | Burkina Faso | Francistown, Botswana |
Report | Stadium: Francistown Stadium |
16 November 2018 2019 AFCONQ | Mauritania | v | Botswana | Mauritania |
Report |
22 March 2019 2019 AFCONQ | Botswana | v | Angola | Botswana |
Report |
Current squad
The following players were called for 2015 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match against Guinea-Bissau on July 19 and August 2, 2014.[6]
Caps and goals updated as of 14 July 2014.
Recent call-ups
No. | Pos. | Player | Date of birth (age) | Caps | Goals | Club | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
GK | Noah Maposa | 3 June 1985 (aged 26) | 17 | 0 | Gaborone United | |||
23 | GK | Michael Pepukani | 29 April 1989 (aged 24) | 2 | 0 | Township Rollers | ||
DF | Moreetsi Mosimanyana | 5 May 1985 (aged 23) | 3 | 0 | Botswana Defence Force | |||
DF | Osego Gaotewe | 28 March 1987 (aged 26) | 1 | 0 | Gaborone United | |||
DF | Kaelo Kgaswane | 22 December 1992 (aged 20) | 1 | 0 | Gaborone United | |||
DF | Gogontle Marumo | 0 | 0 | Uniao Flamengo Santos | ||||
DF | Simisani Mathumo | 8 December 1989 (aged 24) | 0 | 0 | Township Rollers | |||
DF | Agisanyang Ramaabya | 17 October 1982 (aged 31) | 0 | 0 | Extension Gunners | |||
5 | DF | Mompati Thuma | 5 April 1980 (aged 33) | 73 | 1 | Botswana Defence Force | ||
21 | DF | Tshepo Motlhabankwe | 17 March 1980 (aged 31) | 58 | 2 | Mochudi Centre Chiefs | ||
2 | DF | Gaopatwe Seosenyeng | 25 January 1988 (aged 25) | 3 | 0 | Gaborone United | ||
2 | DF | Ndiapo Letsholathebe | 25 February 1983 (aged 28) | 60 | 0 | Botswana Defence Force | ||
3 | DF | Mosimanegape Ramoshibidu | 22 February 1982 (aged 29) | 20 | 0 | BMC | ||
MF | Sekhana Koko | 5 June 1989 (aged 21) | 10 | 0 | Township Rollers | |||
MF | Lebogang Ditsele | 20 April 1996 (aged 18) | 2 | 0 | Jwaneng Comets | |||
MF | Keorapetse Seloiso | 1 | 0 | Notwane | ||||
7 | MF | Dirang Moloi | 28 November 1985 (aged 26) | 19 | 0 | Don Bosco | ||
15 | MF | Galabgwe Moyana | 24 May 1990 (aged 21) | 14 | 0 | Polokwane City | ||
MF | Kabo Rasuping | 10 February 1992 (aged 22) | 0 | 0 | Gaborone United | |||
8 | MF | Phenyo Mongala | 10 June 1985 (aged 26) | 23 | 1 | Don Bosco | ||
10 | MF | Ntesang Simanyana | 2 December 1990 (aged 21) | 8 | 1 | Gaborone United | ||
3 | MF | Topo Piet | 11 December 1988 (aged 24) | 5 | 0 | Nico United | ||
13 | MF | Gift Moyo | 20 August 1990 (aged 22) | 4 | 0 | Nico United | ||
2 | MF | Abednico Powell | 28 January 1983 (aged 28) | 3 | 0 | Mogoditshane Fighters | ||
13 | MF | Alphonse Modisaotsile | 30 January 1985 (aged 26) | 7 | 0 | Gaborone United | ||
FW | Tebogo Sembowa | 7 February 1988 (aged 23) | 16 | 3 | Gaborone United | |||
FW | Kelelelo Kgosimore | 1 | 0 | Extension Gunners | ||||
10 | FW | Moemedi Moatlhaping | 14 July 1985 (aged 26) | 40 | 4 | Gaborone United |
Records
- As of 14 November 2017[7]
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Managers
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References
- ^ "BBC Sport – Football – Minnows Botswana qualify for Africa Cup of Nations". BBC News. 2011-03-26. Retrieved 2013-11-15.
- ^ "BBC Sport – Football – Botswana sack coach Tshosane". BBC News. 2013-10-08. Retrieved 2014-04-16.
- ^ "BBC Sport – Football – Englishman Peter Butler appointed as Botswana coach". BBC News. 2014-02-10. Retrieved 2014-04-16.
- ^ "BBC Sport – Football – David Bright to coach Botswana's national team for a fourth time". BBC News. 2017-07-10. Retrieved 2017-10-04.
- ^ "World Football Elo Ratings: Botswana". Elo Ratings. Retrieved 9 August 2017.
- ^ "Zebras ready for Djurtus". Daily News (Botswana). 2014-07-16. Retrieved 2014-07-16.
- ^ "Botswana - Record International Players". rsssf.com. Retrieved 2017-02-02.
External links
- Botswana at FIFA.com
- Botswana FA Official site