Botswana national football team

The Botswana national football team () represents Botswana in men's international association football. It is governed by the Botswana Football Association (BFA) which was founded in 1970.

As of December 2025, the team has qualified for two editions of Africa Cup of Nations, in 2012 and 2025, and it has not managed to qualify for the FIFA World Cup. The team also participates in the regional COSAFA Cup which is open to Southern African national teams and takes place annually; Botswana's best result in the cup to date is finishing runners-up in the 2016 and 2019 editions.

History

Botswana's first unofficial match was an 8–1 loss against Malawi on 13 July 1968, and they became affiliated with CAF in early 1976. Botswana's first official match was the 3–2 loss against Zambia on 30 August 1976. Botswana then joined FIFA in 1978.

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.

thumb|150px|right|[[Brandon Wilson (footballer, born 1997)|Brandon Wilson received his first call up for Botswana in 2023]]

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. Despite this, they then picked up eight points from a possible twelve on offer, a 1–1 draw away against Egypt in their last match of the campaign sealing qualification for only their second ever Africa Cup of Nations. This was despite manager Didier Gomes Da Rosa resigning to take charge of Al Ahli, meaning Morena Ramoreboli took interim charge for the team's last two 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.

2025

2026

Coaching history

thumb|200px|[[Freddie Mwila managed the national football team of Botswana in the 1990s]]

: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 (2022–2023)
Didier Gomes Da Rosa (2023-2024)
Morena Ramoreboli (2024-)

Players

Current squad

The following players were called up for the Mukuru Four Nations Tournament on 28 and 31 March 2026.

Caps and goals correct as of 31 March 2026, after the match against Malawi.

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

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center;"

!width=30px|Rank

! style="width:175px;"|Player

!width=50px|Caps

!width=50px|Goals

! style="width:100px;"|Career

| 1 ||align=left| Mosha Gaolaolwe || 97 || 2 || 2013–present

| 2 ||align=left| Joel Mogorosi || 93 || 16 || 2005–2019

| 3 ||align=left| Mompati Thuma || 92 || 1 || 2004–2013

| 4 ||align=left| Modiri Marumo || 88 || 0 || 1997–2015

| 5 ||align=left| Ndiapo Letsholathebe || 78 || 0 || 2003–2013

| 6 ||align=left| Kabelo Seakanyeng || 77 || 10 || 2014–present

| 7 ||align=left| Tshepo Motlhabankwe || 76 || 2 || 2003–2013

| 8 ||align=left| Mogogi Gabonamong || 74 || 4 || 1999–2015

| 9 ||align=left| Dipsy Selolwane || 68 || 18 || 1998–2012

| 10 ||align=left| Tumisang Orebonye || 65 || 7 || 2017–present

Top goalscorers

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center;"

!width=30px|Rank

! style="width:175px;"|Player

!width=50px|Goals

!width=50px|Caps

!width=50px|Ratio

! style="width:100px;"|Career

| 1 ||align=left| Jerome Ramatlhakwane || 24 || 61 || || 2006–2018

| 2 ||align=left| Dipsy Selolwane || 18 || 68 || || 1998–2012

| 3 ||align=left| Joel Mogorosi || 16 || 93 || || 2005–2019

| 4 ||align=left| Lemponye Tshireletso || 11 || 64 || || 2009–2020

| rowspan=2|5 ||align=left| Onkabetse Makgantai || 10 || 29 || || 2014–2021

|align=left| Kabelo Seakanyeng || 10 || 77 || || 2014–present

| 7 ||align=left| Moemedi Moatlhaping || 9 || 51 || || 2004–2013

| 8 ||align=left| Tshepiso Molwantwa || 8 || 45 || || 1998–2006

| rowspan=2|9 ||align=left| Pontsho Moloi || 7 || 51 || || 2004–2012

|align=left| Tumisang Orebonye || 7 || 65 || || 2017–present

Competitive records

FIFA World Cup

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;"

!colspan=9|FIFA World Cup record

!rowspan=39|

!colspan=6|Qualification record

!Year

!Round

!Position

| 1970 to 1978

| colspan=8 |Not a FIFA member

| colspan=6 |Not a FIFA member

| 1982 to 1990

| colspan=8 |Did not enter

| colspan=6 |Declined participation

| 1994

| colspan=8 |Did not qualify

| 1998

| colspan=8 |Did not enter

| colspan=6 |Did not enter

| 2002

| colspan=8 rowspan=7 |Did not qualify

| 2006

|12

|14

|19

| 2010

| 2014

|10

| 2018

| 2022

| 2026

|10

|12

|16

| 2030

| colspan=8 rowspan=2 |To be determined

| colspan=6 rowspan=2 |To be determined

| 2034

!Total

!46

!13

!26

!45

!69

Africa Cup of Nations

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;"

!colspan=9|Africa Cup of Nations record

! rowspan="40" width="1" |

!colspan=6|Qualification record

!Year

!Round

!Position

| 1957||colspan=8 rowspan=5|Part of

|colspan=8 rowspan=5|Part of

| 1959

| 1962

| 1963

| 1965

| 1968||colspan=8 rowspan=4|Not affiliated to CAF

|colspan=8 rowspan=4|Not affiliated to CAF

| 1970

| 1974

| 1976

| 1978||colspan=8 rowspan=8|Did not enter

|colspan=8 rowspan=8|Did not enter

| 1980

| 1982

| 1984

| 1986

| 1988

| 1990

| 1992

| 1994||colspan=8 rowspan=9|Did not qualify

| 1996

|10

|27

| 1998

| 2000

| 2002

| 2004

| 2006

|12

|14

|19

| 2008

| 2010

| 2012

|Group stage

|16th

| 2013||colspan=8 rowspan=6|Did not qualify

| 2015

|11

| 2017

| 2019

| 2021

| 2023

| 2025||Group stage

|24th

| 2027|| colspan="8" rowspan="2" |To be determined

| colspan="6" rowspan="2" |To be determined

| 2029

!Total

!Group stage

!2/35

!16

!96

!20

!55

!54

!144

COSAFA Cup

Head-to-head record

As of 31 March 2026 after match against Malawi

{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:100%; text-align:center;"

|+Key

| style="background:#CCFFCC;" width="20" |

| bgcolor="#ffffff" align="left" | Positive balance (more Wins)

| style="background:#FFFFCC;" width="20" |

| bgcolor="#ffffff" align="left" | Neutral balance (Wins = Losses)

| style="background:#FFCCCC;" width="20" |

| bgcolor="#ffffff" align="left" | Negative balance (more Losses)

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center"

!width=220|Opponent

!width=100|Pld

!width=70|W

!width=70|D

!width=70|L

!width=100|GF

!width=100|GA

!width=120|GD

|- bgcolor=FFCCCC

| style="text-align:left;"| || 4 || 0 || 0 || 4 || 2 || 12 || −10

|- bgcolor=FFCCCC

| style="text-align:left;"| || 14 || 2 || 6 || 6 || 6 || 14 || −8

|- bgcolor=FFCCCC

| style="text-align:left;"| || 1 || 0 || 0 || 1 || 0 || 1 || −1

|- bgcolor=FFCCCC

| style="text-align:left;"| || 6 || 2 || 1 || 3 || 3 || 7 || −4

|- bgcolor=CCFFCC

| style="text-align:left;"| || 5 || 2 || 2 || 1 || 2 || 1 || +1

|- bgcolor=FFFACD

| style="text-align:left;"| || 2 || 1 || 0 || 1 || 3 || 4 || −1

|- bgcolor=FFFACD

| style="text-align:left;"| || 1 || 0 || 1 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0

|- bgcolor=CCFFCC

| style="text-align:left;"| || 2 || 2 || 0 || 0 || 2 || 0 || +2

|- bgcolor=CCFFCC

| style="text-align:left;"| || 2 || 2 || 0 || 0 || 2 || 0 || +2

|- bgcolor=FFCCCC

| style="text-align:left;"| || 2 || 0 || 0 || 2 || 1 || 6 || −5

|- bgcolor=FFFACD

| style="text-align:left;"| || 5 || 2 || 2 || 1 || 3 || 2 || +1

|- bgcolor=FFCCCC

| style="text-align:left;"| || 6 || 0 || 3 || 3 || 0 || 7 || −7

|- bgcolor=FFCCCC

| style="text-align:left;"| || 8 || 0 || 3 || 5 || 2 || 12 || −10

|- bgcolor=CCFFCC

| style="text-align:left;"| || 3 || 1 || 0 || 2 || 4 || 5 || –1

|- bgcolor=CCFFCC

| style="text-align:left;"| || 2 || 2 || 0 || 0 || 5 || 1 || +4

|- bgcolor=FFFACD

| style="text-align:left;"| || 4 || 2 || 0 || 2 || 7 || 4 || +3

|- bgcolor=FFFACD

| style="text-align:left;"| || 1 || 0 || 1 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0

|- bgcolor=FFCCCC

| style="text-align:left;"| || 2 || 0 || 1 || 1 || 0 || 1 || −1

|- bgcolor=FFCCCC

| style="text-align:left;"| || 7 || 1 || 1 || 5 || 5 || 20 || −15

|- bgcolor=CCFFCC

| style="text-align:left;"| || 2 || 1 || 1 || 0 || 3 || 1 || +2

|- bgcolor=FFFACD

| style="text-align:left;"| || 1 || 0 || 1 || 0 || 1 || 1 || 0

|- bgcolor=FFFACD

| style="text-align:left;"| || 1 || 0 || 1 || 0 || 1 || 1 || 0

|- bgcolor=FFCCCC

| style="text-align:left;"| || 4 || 0 || 2 || 2 || 1 || 11 || −10

|- bgcolor=FFCCCC

| style="text-align:left;"| || 7 || 3 || 0 || 4 || 7 || 10 || −3

|- bgcolor=CCFFCC

| style="text-align:left;"| || 31 || 15 || 11 || 5 || 39 || 23 || +16

|- bgcolor=FFCCCC

| style="text-align:left;"| || 1 || 0 || 1 || 1 || 1 || 3 || −2

|- bgcolor=FFCCCC

| style="text-align:left;"| || 5 || 1 || 2 || 2 || 1 || 2 || −1

|- bgcolor=FFCCCC

| style="text-align:left;"| || 8 || 1 || 2 || 3 || 4 || 5 || −1

|- bgcolor=FFCCCC

| style="text-align:left;"| || 26 || 6 || 8 || 12 || 22 || 47 || −25

|- bgcolor=FFCCCC

| style="text-align:left;"| || 7 || 1 || 0 || 6 || 5 || 19 || −14

|- bgcolor=FFCCCC

| style="text-align:left;"| || 6 || 1 || 1 || 4 || 4 || 10 || −6

|- bgcolor=FFFACD

| style="text-align:left;"| || 3 || 1 || 1 || 1 || 6 || 1 || +5

|- bgcolor=FFCCCC

| style="text-align:left;"| || 2 || 0 || 0 || 2 || 0 || 2 || −2

|- bgcolor=FFCCCC

| style="text-align:left;"| || 25 || 5 || 5 || 15 || 19 || 40 || −21

|- bgcolor=CCFFCC

| style="text-align:left;"| || 20 || 7 || 11 || 2 || 19 || 18 || +1

|- bgcolor=FFFACD

| style="text-align:left;"| || 1 || 0 || 1 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0

|- bgcolor=FFCCCC

| style="text-align:left;"| || 3 || 0 || 1 || 2 || 2 || 4 || −2

|- bgcolor=FFFACD

| style="text-align:left;"| || 1 || 0 || 1 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0

|- bgcolor=FFCCCC

| style="text-align:left;"| || 3 || 0 || 0 || 3 || 0 || 8 || −8

|- bgcolor=FFFACD

| style="text-align:left;"| || 1 || 0 || 1 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0

|- bgcolor=CCFFCC

| style="text-align:left;"| || 4 || 4 || 0 || 0 || 8 || 1 || +7

|- bgcolor=CCFFCC

| style="text-align:left;"| || 2 || 2 || 0 || 0 || 5 || 1 || +4

|- bgcolor=FFCCCC

| style="text-align:left;"| || 20 || 0 || 6 || 14 || 10 || 31 || −21

|- bgcolor=CCFFCC

| style="text-align:left;"| || 1 || 1 || 0 || 0 || 3 || 0 || +3

|- bgcolor=CCFFCC

| style="text-align:left;"| || 32 || 16 || 11 || 5 || 46 || 26 || +20

|- bgcolor=FFCCCC

| style="text-align:left;"| || 1 || 0 || 0 || 1 || 1 || 2 || −1

|- bgcolor=FFCCCC

| style="text-align:left;"| || 5 || 1 || 2 || 2 || 7 || 9 || −2

|- bgcolor=FFFACD

| style="text-align:left;"| || 2 || 1 || 0 || 1 || 2 || 2 || 0

|- bgcolor=FFFACD

| style="text-align:left;"| || 1 || 0 || 1 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0

|- bgcolor=FFCCCC

| style="text-align:left;"| || 8 || 2 || 2 || 4 || 5 || 12 || −7

|- bgcolor=FFCCCC

| style="text-align:left;"| || 7 || 0 || 2 || 5 || 2 || 9 || −7

|- bgcolor=FFCCCC

| style="text-align:left;"| || 27 || 4 || 8 || 15 || 15 || 42 || −27

|- bgcolor=FFCCCC

| style="text-align:left;"| || 20 || 4 || 5 || 11 || 9 || 26 || −17

|- class="sortbottom"

! Total || 365 || 96 || 101 || 168 || 295 || 463 || −168

Honours

Regional

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

Awards

African National Team of the Year (1): 2011

References

External links

Botswana FA official site
Botswana at CAF
Botswana at FIFA