Botswana national football team

Botswana

Nickname(s)	Dipitse (The Zebras)
Association	BFA
Confederation	CAF (Africa)
Sub-confederation	COSAFA (Southern Africa)
Head coach	Morena Ramoreboli
Captain	Thatayaone Ditlhokwe
Most caps	Joel Mogorosi (92)
Top scorer	Jerome Ramatlhakwane (24)
Home stadium	Botswana National Stadium
FIFA code	BOT
First colours Second colours Third colours
FIFA ranking
Current	135 1 (10 July 2025)[1]
Highest	53 (December 2010)
Lowest	165 (November 1999 – February 2000)
First international
Malawi 8–1   (Malawi; 13 July 1968)
Biggest win
6–0 Mauritius  (Polokwane, South Africa; 1 June 2018)
Biggest defeat
Malawi 8–1   (Malawi; 13 July 1968)   0–7 Zimbabwe  (Gaborone, Botswana; 26 August 1990)
Africa Cup of Nations
Appearances	2 (first in 2012)
Best result	Group stage (2012)
COSAFA Cup
Appearances	19 (first in 1997)
Best result	Runners-up (2016, 2019)
Medal record COSAFA Cup 2016 Namibia Team 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). The team has qualified for two Africa Cup of Nations tournaments, in 2012^[3] and 2025.^[4]

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.^[5] 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.^[6] This was despite manager Didier Gomes Da Rosa resigning to take charge of Al Ahli,^[7] meaning Morena Ramoreboli took interim charge for the team's last two matches.^[8]

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

  v  Mozambique

8 January Friendly		1–1	Mozambique	Johannesburg, South Africa
16:00 UTC+2	Seakanyeng 39' (pen.)	Report	Amade 90+5'	Stadium: Johannesburg Stadium

  v  Rwanda

22 March Friendly		0–0	Rwanda	Antananarivo, Madagascar
13:00 UTC+3				Stadium: Mahamasina Municipal Stadium

Burundi  v  

25 March Friendly	Burundi	0–0		Antananarivo, Madagascar
13:00 UTC+3				Stadium: Mahamasina Municipal Stadium

Uganda  v  

7 June 2026 World Cup qualification	Uganda	1–0		Kampala, Uganda
19:00 UTC+3	Shaban 74'	Report		Stadium: Mandela National Stadium Attendance: 45,000 Referee: Clement Franklin Kpan (Ivory Coast)

Somalia  v  

10 June 2026 World Cup qualification	Somalia	1–3		Maputo, Mozambique
15:00 UTC+2	Hassan 74'	Report	Sesinyi 10' Gaolaolwe 53' Seakanyeng 72'	Stadium: Estádio do Zimpeto Referee: Emmanuel Mensah (Liberia)

Eswatini  v  

26 June 2024 COSAFA Cup	Eswatini	0–0		Gqeberha, South Africa
15:00		Report		Stadium: Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium

South Africa  v  

29 June 2024 COSAFA Cup	South Africa	0–0		Gqeberha, South Africa
15:00		Report		Stadium: Isaac Wolfson Stadium

Mozambique  v  

2 July 2024 COSAFA Cup	Mozambique	3–1		Gqeberha, South Africa
15:00	Ferreira 45+2' Dário 66' Cândido 90+4'	Report	Kopelang 20'	Stadium: Isaac Wolfson Stadium

Libya  v  

31 August Friendly	Libya	1–0		Tripoli, Libya
18:00 UTC+2	Krawa'a 54' (pen.)	Report		Stadium: Tripoli Stadium

Mauritania  v  

7 September 2025 AFCON qualification	Mauritania	1–0		Nouakchott, Mauritania
16:00 UTC+0	Amar 84'	Report		Stadium: Cheikha Ould Boïdiya Stadium Referee: Daniel Nii Laryea (Ghana)

  v  Egypt

10 September 2025 AFCON qualification		0–4	Egypt	Francistown, Botswana
18:00 UTC+2		Report	Trézéguet 5', 29' Salah 56' M. Fathi 90+4'	Stadium: Obed Itani Chilume Stadium Referee: Omar Abdulkadir Artan (Somalia)

Cape Verde  v  

10 October 2025 AFCON qualification	Cape Verde	0–1		Praia, Cape Verde
15:00 UTC−1		Report	Orebonye 2'	Stadium: Estádio Nacional de Cabo Verde Referee: Samir Guezzaz (Morocco)

  v  Cape Verde

15 October 2025 AFCON qualification		1–0	Cape Verde	Francistown, Botswana
18:00 UTC+2	Sesinyi 52'	Report		Stadium: Obed Itani Chilume Stadium Attendance: 8,000 Referee: Messie Nkounkou (Congo)

  v  Mauritania

15 November 2025 AFCON qualification		1–1	Mauritania	Francistown, Botswana
14:00 UTC+2	Baruti 18'	Report	Koïta 7'	Stadium: Obed Itani Chilume Stadium Referee: Bamlak Tessema Weyesa (Ethiopia)

Egypt  v  

19 November 2025 AFCON qualification	Egypt	1–1		Cairo, Egypt
19:00 UTC+2	Trézéguet 15'	Report	Kebatho 8'	Stadium: 30 June Stadium Referee: Abdallah Jammeh (Gambia)

  v  Algeria

21 March 2026 World Cup qualification		1–3	Algeria	Francistown, Botswana
15:00 UTC+2	Kopelang 70'	Report (FIFA) Report (CAF)	Gouiri 44' Amoura 52', 74'	Stadium: Obed Itani Chilume Stadium Attendance: 3,278 Referee: Ahmed Arajiga (Tanzania)

  v  Somalia

25 March 2026 World Cup qualification		2–0	Somalia	Francistown, Botswana
15:00 UTC+2		Report (FIFA) Report (CAF)		Stadium: Obed Itani Chilume Stadium

Comoros  v  

6 June 2025 COSAFA Cup	Comoros	0–0		Bloemfontein, South Africa
18:00 UTC+2		Report		Stadium: Dr. Petrus Molemela Stadium Referee: Arnaud Zafimahatoha (Madagascar)

  v  Zambia

11 June 2025 COSAFA Cup		3–3	Zambia	Bloemfontein, South Africa
15:00 UTC+2	Kgamanyane 2' Semadi 32' (pen.) Maponda 60'	Report	Zulu 45+3' (pen.) Sinkala 52' Jo. Phiri 90' (pen.)	Stadium: Dr. Petrus Molemela Stadium Referee: Akhona Makalima (South Africa)

Algeria  v  

September 2026 World Cup qualification

Algeria

v

Mozambique  v  

September 2026 World Cup qualification

Mozambique

v

  v  Uganda

October 2026 World Cup qualification

v

Uganda

Guinea  v  

October 2026 World Cup qualification

Guinea

v

Senegal  v  

23 December 2025 AFCON Group Stage	Senegal	v		Tangier, Morocco
18:00				Stadium: Ibn Batouta Stadium

Benin  v  

27 December 2025 AFCON Group Stage	Benin	v		Rabat, Morocco
20:30				Stadium: Prince Moulay Abdellah Olympic Annex Stadium

  v  DR Congo

30 December 2025 AFCON Group Stage		v	DR Congo	Rabat, Morocco
20:30				Stadium: Al Barid Stadium

Caretaker managers are listed in italics.

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.^[9]

Caps and goals correct as of 19 November 2024, after the match against Egypt.

No.	Pos.	Player	Date of birth (age)	Caps	Goals	Club
	1GK	Goitseone Phoko	(1994-12-13) 13 December 1994	34	1	Jwaneng Galaxy
	1GK	Lesenya Malapela	(1996-07-10) 10 July 1996	5	0	Orapa United
	1GK	Kabelo Maphakela	(1998-08-06) 6 August 1998	1	0	Mochudi Centre Chiefs
	2DF	Mosha Gaolaolwe	(1993-12-25) 25 December 1993	87	5	Township Rollers
	2DF	Thatayaone Ditlhokwe	(1998-09-21) 21 September 1998	38	2	Al-Ittihad
	2DF	Tebogo Kopelang	(2000-04-24) 24 April 2000	28	1	Jwaneng Galaxy
	2DF	Mothusi Johnson	(1997-07-28) 28 July 1997	27	0	Gaborone United
	2DF	Alford Velaphi	(1999-01-18) 18 January 1999	27	0	Gaborone United
	2DF	Kitso Mangolo	(1999-01-06) 6 January 1999	23	1	Mochudi Centre Chiefs
	2DF	Thabo Leinanyane	(1993-07-27) 27 July 1993	18	0	Jwaneng Galaxy
	2DF	Kemoneetswe Mmangwedi	(1999-02-03) 3 February 1999	0	0	TAFIC
	3MF	Lebogang Ditsele	(1996-04-20) 20 April 1996	56	3	Gaborone United
	3MF	Segolame Boy	(1992-11-07) 7 November 1992	43	4	Township Rollers
	3MF	Thero Setsile	(1995-10-08) 8 October 1995	33	3	Jwaneng Galaxy
	3MF	Gape Mohutsiwa	(1997-03-20) 20 March 1997	27	2	ASO Chlef
	3MF	Godiraone Modingwane	(1996-06-26) 26 June 1996	23	0	Botswana Defence Force
	3MF	Gilbert Baruti	(1992-03-16) 16 March 1992	15	1	Jwaneng Galaxy
	3MF	Gift Moyo	(1990-08-20) 20 August 1990	11	0	Jwaneng Galaxy
	3MF	Koketso Majafi	(1992-11-07) 7 November 1992	6	0	Orapa United
	3MF	Renei Batlokwa	(1997-12-18) 18 December 1997	1	0	Maldon & Tiptree
	3MF	Theo Shadikong	(2002-03-26) 26 March 2002	0	0	TAFIC
	4FW	Kabelo Seakanyeng	(1993-06-25) 25 June 1993	69	10	Maghreb of Fez
	4FW	Tumisang Orebonye	(1996-03-26) 26 March 1996	56	6	Al-Ittihad
	4FW	Tshepo Keselebale	(2001-02-19) 19 February 2001	2	0	Security Systems
	4FW	Godfrey Tauyatswala	(2001-01-25) 25 January 2001	0	0	Township Rollers

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	Victor James	(2002-08-27) 27 August 2002	1	0	Masitaoka	2024 COSAFA Cup
GK	Karamelo Kgosipula	(2003-02-06) 6 February 2003	0	0	Matebele	2024 COSAFA Cup
GK	Kenneth Mmoko	(1999-10-13) 13 October 1999	0	0	Sua Flamingoes	2024 COSAFA Cup
GK	Jovan Nikolić	(2001-09-09) 9 September 2001	0	0	Marinhense	2024 COSAFA Cup
GK	Kabelo Dambe	(1990-05-10) 10 May 1990	63	0	Township Rollers	v.  Somalia, 10 June 2024
GK	Thabo Motswagole	(2000-04-22) 22 April 2000	1	0	Masitaoka	v.  Somalia, 10 June 2024
DF	Thabo Babutsi	(2000-07-24) 24 July 2000	3	0	Township Rollers	2024 COSAFA Cup
DF	Atamelang Lesogo		1	0	Orapa United	2024 COSAFA Cup
DF	Botsile Sakana	(2001-01-26) 26 January 2001	1	0	Masitaoka	2024 COSAFA Cup
DF	Obakeng Senono	(1999-09-29) 29 September 1999	1	0	Masitaoka	2024 COSAFA Cup
DF	Leruo Ratala	(2002-03-28) 28 March 2002	0	0	Gaborone United	2024 COSAFA Cup
DF	Bonno Sepako		0	0	UB Hawks	2024 COSAFA Cup
DF	Motsholetsi Sikele	(1991-12-01) 1 December 1991	4	0	Township Rollers	v.  Somalia, 10 June 2024
MF	Gape Thibedi	(2000-02-02) 2 February 2000	11	0	Gaborone United	2024 COSAFA Cup
MF	Olebogeng Ramotse	(1998-01-17) 17 January 1998	9	0	Masitaoka	2024 COSAFA Cup
MF	Tawana Mbakile	(2000-07-14) 14 July 2000	5	0	Security Systems	2024 COSAFA Cup
MF	Obakeng Ramotlhwa	(1999-07-26) 26 July 1999	1	0	Masitaoka	2024 COSAFA Cup
MF	Ricky Ratlhogo	(2000-12-08) 8 December 2000	1	0	Orapa United	2024 COSAFA Cup
MF	Ofentse Mbaiwa	(2003-06-10) 10 June 2003	0	0	Eleven Angels	2024 COSAFA Cup
MF	Boniface Ramolale	(2002-04-03) 3 April 2002	0	0	Masitaoka	2024 COSAFA Cup
MF	Shaun Theron	(2003-03-11) 11 March 2003	0	0	Jwaneng Galaxy	2024 COSAFA Cup
MF	Phenyo Serameng	(1996-09-27) 27 September 1996	4	0	Township Rollers	v.  Somalia, 10 June 2024
MF	Mpho Kgaswane	(1994-06-13) 13 June 1994	21	2	Gaborone United	v.  Burundi, 25 March 2024
MF	Christopher Lemme	(1995-11-05) 5 November 1995	3	0	Security Systems	v.  Burundi, 25 March 2024
FW	Molaodi Tlhalefang	(1997-07-07) 7 July 1997	11	2	Miscellaneous SC Serowe	2024 COSAFA Cup
FW	Eric Ookame	(2001-04-03) 3 April 2001	4	0	Eleven Angels	2024 COSAFA Cup
FW	Oarabile Sekwai	(1998-11-28) 28 November 1998	4	0	Police XI	2024 COSAFA Cup
FW	Lizo Skweyiya	(2004-01-01) 1 January 2004	4	0	Orlando Pirates	2024 COSAFA Cup
FW	Thabiso Bante	(1995-04-25) 25 April 1995	2	0	TAFIC	2024 COSAFA Cup
FW	Bame Morwalela	(1999-03-25) 25 March 1999	2	1	Township Rollers	2024 COSAFA Cup
FW	Thabang Sesinyi	(1992-10-15) 15 October 1992	23	3	Jwaneng Galaxy	v.  Somalia, 10 June 2024

As of 15 November 2024^[10]

Players in bold are still active with Botswana.

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
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										2	0	1	1	0	1
2026	To be determined									6	3	0	3	9	8
2030										To be determined
2034
Total		0/11								42	13	6	23	42	61

Africa Cup of Nations record										Qualification record
Year	Round	Position	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA		Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA
1957	Part of  United Kingdom									Part of  United Kingdom
1959
1962
1963
1965
1968	Not affiliated to CAF									Not affiliated to CAF
1970
1974
1976
1978	Did not enter									Did not enter
1980
1982
1984
1986
1988
1990
1992
1994	Did not qualify									2	0	1	1	0	4
1996										10	0	2	8	5	27
1998										2	0	1	1	0	6
2000										2	0	1	1	1	2
2002										2	1	0	1	1	3
2004										6	0	3	3	2	6
2006										12	4	1	7	14	19
2008										6	2	1	3	3	7
2010										6	1	2	3	3	8
2012	Group stage	16th	3	0	0	3	2	9		8	5	2	1	7	3
2013	Did not qualify									2	0	0	2	1	7
2015										8	1	2	5	2	11
2017										6	2	0	4	5	8
2019										6	0	1	5	1	8
2021										6	1	1	4	2	9
2023										6	1	1	4	3	9
2025	Qualified									6	2	2	2	4	7
2027	To be determined									To be determined
2029
Total	Group stage	2/35	3	0	0	3	2	9		96	20	20	55	54	144

As of 25 March 2025 after match against Somaila^[11]

Opponent	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD
Algeria	3	0	0	3	1	9	−8
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	8	0	3	5	2	12	−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	6	1	1	4	4	10	−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	2	2	0	0	5	1	+4
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	353	95	97	161	287	441	−154

• COSAFA Cup
  • Runners-up (2): 2016, 2019

• African National Team of the Year: 2011

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Botswana national association football team.

• Botswana FA official site
• Botswana at CAF
• Botswana at FIFA