Botswana national football team

Botswana

Nickname(s)	Dipitse (The Zebras)
Association	BFA
Confederation	CAF (Africa)
Sub-confederation	COSAFA (Southern Africa)
Head coach	Didier Gomes Da Rosa
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	145 (21 December 2023)
Highest	53 (December 2010)
Lowest	165 (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
Appearances	1 (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 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 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

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

2024

Coaching history

Caretaker managers are listed in italics.

Players

Current squad

The following players were called up for the 2023 COSAFA Cup.

Caps and goals correct as of 11 July 2023, after the match against Namibia

No.	Pos.	Player	Date of birth (age)	Caps	Goals	Club
	GK	Lesenya Malapela	10 July 1996	6	0	Orapa United
	GK	Thabo Motswagole	22 April 2000	1	0	Masitaoka
	DF	Thato Kebue	29 May 1997	32	2	Gaborone United
	DF	Alfred Velaphi	18 January 1999	16	0	Gaborone United
	DF	Tebogo Kopelang	24 April 2000	13	0	Security Systems
	DF	Kitso Mangolo	6 January 1999	12	1	Jwaneng Galaxy
	DF	Goitseone Legopelo	2 June 1997	5	0	Uniao Flamengo Santos
	DF	Thabo Babutsi	24 July 2000	2	0	Township Rollers
	DF	Thabang Khuduga	24 March 1999	1	0	Masitaoka
	MF	Lebogang Ditsele	20 April 1996	52	3	Gaborone United
	MF	Gofaone Mabaya	31 August 1995	17	0	Orapa United
	MF	Godiraone Modingwane	26 June 1996	14	0	Botswana Defence Force
	MF	Gape Thibedi	2 February 2000	10	0	Gaborone United
	MF	Olebogeng Ramotse	17 January 1998	3	0	Masitaoka
	MF	Oarabile Sekwai	28 November 1998	2	0	Police XI
	MF	Obakeng Ramotlhwa	26 July 1999	1	0	Masitaoka
	MF	Thabang Aphiri	3 August 2003	0	0	Jwaneng Galaxy
	MF	Shaun Theron	11 March 2003	0	0	Jwaneng Galaxy
	FW	Thatayaone Kgamanyane	30 January 1996	23	5	Gaborone United
	FW	Molaodi Tlhalefang	7 July 1997	5	0	Miscellaneous SC Serowe
	FW	Monty Enosa	6 February 2004	4	0	Masitaoka
	FW	Tawana Mbakile	14 July 2000	3	0	Security Systems
	FW	Eric Ookame	3 April 2001	3	0	Eleven Angels
	FW	Lethabo Ogotseng	17 November 2002	0	0	Masitaoka

Recent call-ups

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 Maphakela	28 November 1998	0	0	Township Rollers	v. Libya, 17 June 2023
GK	Goitseone Phoko	13 December 1994	20	1	Gaborone United	v. Equatorial Guinea, 28 March 2023
GK	Ezekiel Morake	21 March 1996	10	0	Ethiopian Coffee	v. Equatorial Guinea, 28 March 2023
DF	Thatayaone Ditlhokwe	21 September 1998	26	2	Kaizer Chiefs	v. Libya, 17 June 2023
DF	Mothusi Johnson	28 July 1997	22	0	Gaborone United	v. Libya, 17 June 2023
DF	Leruo Ratala	3 October 1998	0	0	Gaborone United	v. Libya, 17 June 2023
DF	Mosha Gaolaolwe	25 December 1993	70	1	Township Rollers	v. Equatorial Guinea, 28 March 2023
DF	Moagi Sechele	7 November 1992	1	0	Jwaneng Galaxy	v. Equatorial Guinea, 28 March 2023
MF	Mothusi Cooper	19 July 1997	22	0	Gaborone United	v. Libya, 17 June 2023
MF	Mpho Kgaswane	13 June 1994	20	2	Gaborone United	v. Libya, 17 June 2023
MF	Gape Mohutsiwa	20 March 1997	16	2	ASO Chlef	v. Libya, 17 June 2023
MF	Omphile Vissage	28 November 1996	0	0	Township Rollers	v. Libya, 17 June 2023
MF	Lemogang Maswena	5 February 1991	6	0	Jwaneng Galaxy	v. Equatorial Guinea, 28 March 2023
MF	Phenyo Serameng	27 September 1996	1	0	Township Rollers	v. Equatorial Guinea, 28 March 2023
FW	Kabelo Seakanyeng	25 June 1993	53	7	Olympique Khouribga	v. Libya, 17 June 2023
FW	Omaatla Kebatho	16 June 1993	22	2	Orapa United	v. Libya, 17 June 2023
FW	Thabang Sesinyi	15 October 1992	16	2	Jwaneng Galaxy	v. Libya, 17 June 2023
FW	Tumisang Orebonye	26 March 1996	40	5	USM Alger	v. Equatorial Guinea, 28 March 2023
FW	Thero Setsile	8 October 1995	31	3	Gaborone United	v. Equatorial Guinea, 28 March 2023
FW	Onkabetse Makgantai	1 July 1995	27	10	Orapa United	v. Equatorial Guinea, 28 March 2023
FW	Mbatshi Elias	10 July 1995	11	1	Township Rollers	v. Equatorial Guinea, 28 March 2023

Player records

As of 21 November 2023

Players in bold are still active with Botswana.

Most appearances

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	62	0	2011–2021
	Ofentse Nato	62	4	2009–2017

Top goalscorers

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

FIFA World Cup

FIFA World Cup record										Qualification record
Year	Round	Position	Pld	W	D*	L	GF	GA		Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA
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	To be determined									1	0	0	1	2	3
2030										To be determined
2034
Total		0/22								37	10	6	21	35	56

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
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
1996
1998
2000
2002
2004
2006
2008
2010
2012	Group stage	14th	3	0	0	3	2	9
2013	Did not qualify
2015
2017
2019
2021
2023
2025	To be determined									To be determined
2027
Total	Group stage	1/36	3	0	0	3	2	9

COSAFA Cup

Head-to-head record

As of 18 November 2019 after match against Algeria

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