Quick facts for kids
Botswana
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Nickname(s) |
Dipitse (The Zebras) |
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Association |
BFA |
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Confederation |
CAF (Africa) |
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Sub-confederation |
COSAFA (Southern Africa) |
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Head coach |
Mogomotsi Mpote |
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Captain |
Thatayaone Ditlhokwe |
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Most caps |
Joel Mogorosi (92) |
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Top scorer |
Jerome Ramatlhakwane (24) |
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Home stadium |
Botswana National Stadium |
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FIFA code |
BOT |
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FIFA ranking |
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Current |
145 (7 February 2019) |
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Highest |
53 (December 2010) |
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Lowest |
165 (November 1999 – February 2000) |
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Elo ranking |
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Current |
133 15 (3 March 2019) |
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Highest |
98 (August 2011) |
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Lowest |
187 (March 1997) |
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First international |
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Malawi 8–1 Botswana
(Malawi; 13 July 1968) |
Biggest win |
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Botswana 6–0 Mauritius
(Polokwane, South Africa; 1 June 2018) |
Biggest defeat |
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Malawi 8–1 Botswana
(Malawi; 13 July 1968) Botswana 0–7 Zimbabwe
(Gaborone, Botswana; 26 August 1990) |
Africa Cup of Nations |
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Appearances |
1 (first in 2012) |
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Best result |
Group stage (2012) |
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COSAFA Cup |
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Appearances |
19 (first in 1997) |
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Best result |
Runners-up (2016, 2019) |
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COSAFA Cup |
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Silver |
2016 Namibia |
Team |
Silver |
2019 South Africa |
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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.
History
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 lead 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 morr 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.
Fixtures
Main page: Botswana national football team results
2022
2023 AFCON qualification 1 June |
Libya |
1–0 |
Botswana |
Benina, Libya |
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18:00 UTC+2 |
- Al Taher 54'
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https://int.soccerway.com/matches/2022/06/01/africa/africa-cup-of-nations-qualification/libya/botswana/3783069/ |
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Stadium: Martyrs of February Stadium
Referee: Sekou Ahmed Toure (Guinea)
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2023 AFCON qualification 5 June |
Botswana |
0–0 |
Tunisia |
Francistown, Botswana |
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15:00 |
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https://int.soccerway.com/matches/2022/06/05/africa/africa-cup-of-nations-qualification/botswana/tunisia/3783071/ |
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Stadium: Obed Itani Chilume Stadium
Referee: Mohamed Athoumani (Comoros)
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2022 COSAFA Cup 5 July |
Seychelles |
0–1 |
Botswana |
Durban, South Africa |
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15:00 |
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https://www.cosafa.com/angola-botswana-get-opening-day-wins-in-durban/ |
- Kebue 49'
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Stadium: King Zwelithini Stadium
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2022 COSAFA Cup 7 July |
Comoros |
0–1 |
Botswana |
Durban, South Africa |
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https://www.cosafa.com/angola-botswana-set-up-group-a-decider-on-sunday/ |
- Talane 40'
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Stadium: King Zwelithini Stadium
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2022 COSAFA Cup 10 July |
Botswana |
1–0 |
Angola |
Durban, South Africa |
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https://www.cosafa.com/en-fr-pr-botswana-eswatini-book-quarterfinal-berths-in-durban/ |
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Stadium: King Zwelithini Stadium
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2022 COSAFA Cup QF 12 July |
Zambia |
1–1
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Botswana |
KwaMashu |
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- Kopelang 9' (o.g.)
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- Mangolo 52'
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Stadium: Princess Magogo Stadium
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Penalties |
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COSAFA Plate SF 15 July |
Botswana |
2–0 |
Swaziland |
Durban, South Africa |
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- Morwalela 41'
- Thatanyane 87'
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https://www.cosafa.com/namibia-and-zambia-to-clash-in-hollywoodbets-cosafa-cup-2022-final/ |
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Stadium: Sugar Ray Xulu Stadium
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COSAFA Plate F 17 July |
South Africa |
2–1 |
Botswana |
Durban, South Africa |
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- Van Wyk 34'
- Rasebotja 80'
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https://www.cosafa.com/zambia-are-crowned-hollywoodbets-cosafa-cup-2022-champions/ |
- Kebue 90+3'
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Stadium: Sugar Ray Xulu Stadium
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2023
2023 AFCON qualification March |
Botswana |
v |
Libya |
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2023 AFCON qualification March |
Tunisia |
v |
Botswana |
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2023 AFCON qualification September |
Equatorial Guinea |
v |
Botswana |
Equatorial Guinea |
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--:-- UTC+1 |
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https://int.soccerway.com/matches/2022/09/19/africa/africa-cup-of-nations-qualification/equatorial-guinea/botswana/3783073/ |
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2023 AFCON qualification September |
Botswana |
v |
Equatorial Guinea |
Botswana |
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--:-- UTC+2 |
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https://int.soccerway.com/matches/2022/09/27/africa/africa-cup-of-nations-qualification/botswana/equatorial-guinea/3783075/ |
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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–)
Players
Current squad
- The following players were called up for the friendly match.
- Match dates: 17 November 2022
- Opposition: Angola
- Caps and goals correct as of: 27 September 2022, after the match against South Africa.
Recent call-ups
The following players were last called up within the last twelve months.
Player records
- Players in bold are still active with Botswana.
Most appearances
Rank |
Player |
Caps |
Goals |
Career |
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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 |
Dipsy Selolwane |
68 |
18 |
1998–2012 |
8 |
Mosha Gaolaolwe |
64 |
1 |
2013– |
Lemponye Tshireletso |
64 |
11 |
2009– |
10 |
Kabelo Dambe |
62 |
0 |
2011– |
Ofentse Nato |
62 |
4 |
2009–2017 |
|
Top goalscorers
Rank |
Player |
Goals |
Caps |
Ratio |
Career |
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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– |
5 |
Onkabetse Makgantai |
10 |
27 |
0.37 |
2014– |
6 |
Moemedi Moatlhaping |
9 |
50 |
0.18 |
2004–2013 |
7 |
Tshepiso Molwantwa |
8 |
44 |
0.18 |
1998–2006 |
8 |
Pontsho Moloi |
7 |
50 |
0.14 |
2004–2012 |
9 |
Kabelo Seakanyeng |
6 |
48 |
0.13 |
2014– |
10 |
Tumisang Orebonye |
5 |
36 |
0.14 |
2017– |
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Competition records
World Cup
Final |
|
Qualification |
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Year |
Round |
Position |
Pld |
W |
D* |
L |
GF |
GA |
Pld |
W |
D |
L |
GF |
GA |
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1970 |
Not a FIFA member |
Not a FIFA member |
1974 |
1978 |
1982 |
Did not enter |
Declined participation |
1986 |
1990 |
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 |
|
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Total |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
36 |
10 |
6 |
20 |
33 |
53 |
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Africa Cup of Nations
Main page: Botswana at the Africa Cup of Nations
Year |
Round |
Position |
Pld |
W |
D |
L |
GF |
GA |
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1968 to 1976 |
Not affiliated to CAF |
1978 to 1992 |
Did not enter |
1994 to 2010 |
Did not qualify |
2012 |
Round 1 |
14th |
3 |
0 |
0 |
3 |
2 |
9 |
2013 to 2021 |
Did not qualify |
2023 |
|
Total |
|
|
3 |
0 |
0 |
3 |
2 |
9 |
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Head-to-head record
As of 18 November 2019 after match against Algeria
See also
In Spanish: Selección de fútbol de Botsuana para niños