Botswana national football team

Botswana
Nickname(s) Dipitse
(The Zebras)
Association Botswana Football Association
Confederation CAF (Africa)
Sub-confederation COSAFA
(Southern Africa)
Head coach Peter Butler
Captain Joel Mogorosi
Top scorer Jerome Ramatlhakwane (19)
Home stadium Botswana National Stadium
FIFA code BOT
First colours
Second colours
Third colours
FIFA ranking
Current 113 Decrease 12 (24 November 2016)
Highest 53 (December 2010)
Lowest 165 (November 1999 – February 2000)
Elo ranking
Current 128
Highest 97 (August 2011)
Lowest 187 (March 1997)
First international
 Malawi 8–1 Botswana 
(Malawi; July 13, 1968)
Biggest win
 Botswana 6–2 Swaziland 
(Gaborone, Botswana; March 2, 2002)
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 11 years after playing their first match to register their first victory – a 4–1 victory in the African pre-preliminary qualifying rounds for Germany 2006 against Lesotho.

The southern African nation took part in their first preliminary competition for the 1994 FIFA World Cup in the USA, where they faced Niger and Côte d'Ivoire. 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 2002 FIFA 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 a Madagascar side ranked 146th in the world at the time led Botswana FA to sack manager Colwyn Rowe, despite his 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 Côte d'Ivoire, Botswana finished bottom of their qualifying group for the 2010 FIFA 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 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 FIFA World Cup, finishing third in their group with 7 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]

Competition records

World Cup record

Africa Cup of Nations record

Schedule and recent results

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.[4]

Caps and goals updated as of 14 July 2014.

0#0 Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club
1GK Kabelo Dambe (1990-05-10)10 May 1990 (aged 21) 18 0 Botswana Township Rollers
1GK Mwampole Masule (1991-09-05)5 September 1991 (aged 22) 1 0 Botswana Township Rollers
1GK Wagarre Dikago 0 0 Botswana Extension Gunners
1GK Bokamoso Moeba 0 0 Botswana Police XI
2DF Edwin Olerile (1986-07-15)15 July 1986 (aged 25) 24 0 Botswana Gaborone United
2DF Oscar Ncenga (1984-02-27)27 February 1984 (aged 27) 21 0 Botswana Township Rollers
2DF Leutlwetse Tshireletso (1985-08-25)25 August 1985 (aged 28) 4 0 Botswana Township Rollers
2DF Moshe Gaolaolwe (1993-12-25)25 December 1993 (aged 19) 3 0 Botswana Botswana Defence Force
2DF Otlantshekela Mooketsi 3 0 Botswana Township Rollers
2DF Obonye Moswate (1986-06-08)8 June 1986 (aged 27) 3 0 Botswana Township Rollers
2DF Pelontle Lerole 0 0 Botswana Botswana Defence Force
3MF Mogogi Gabonamong (1982-09-10)10 September 1982 (aged 29) 47 2 South Africa SuperSport United
3MF Joel Mogorosi (1984-08-02)2 August 1984 (aged 27) 42 6 South Africa Bloemfontein Celtic
3MF Ofentse Nato (1989-10-01) 1 October 1989 34 3 India Atlético de Kolkata
3MF Boitumelo Mafoko (1982-02-11)11 February 1982 (aged 29) 23 1 Botswana Botswana Defence Force
3MF Jackie Mothatego (1987-02-18)18 February 1987 (aged 24) 23 1 Botswana Gaborone United
3MF Onalethata Tshekiso (1981-05-14)14 May 1981 (aged 30) 17 1 Botswana Mochudi Centre Chiefs
3MF Bonolo Phuduhudu (1985-09-25)25 September 1985 (aged 27) 5 1 Botswana Botswana Defence Force
3MF Thato Ogopotse 2 1 Botswana Botswana Defence Force
3MF Karabo Phiri 2 1 Botswana Gaborone United
3MF Kabelo Seakanyeng 2 0 Botswana Botswana Defence Force
3MF Mandla Mgadla (1987-02-18)18 February 1987 (aged 27) 1 0 Botswana Gaborone United
3MF Galebgwe Moyana 1 0 Botswana Mochudi Centre Chiefs
4FW Jerome Ramatlhakwane 30 (1985-10-29)29 October 1985 (aged 26) 37 18 Democratic Republic of the Congo Don Bosco
4FW Lemponye Tshireletso (1984-09-21)21 September 1984 (aged 27) 28 8 Botswana Mochudi Centre Chiefs
4FW Mogakolodi Ngele (1990-10-06)6 October 1990 (aged 23) 20 2 South Africa Platinum Stars
4FW Onkabetse Makgantai 1 1 Botswana Nico United
4FW Unobatsha Mbaiwa 1 0 Botswana BMC

Recent call-ups

0#0 Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club
1GK Noah Maposa (1985-06-03)3 June 1985 (aged 26) 17 0 Botswana Gaborone United
23 1GK Michael Pepukani (1989-04-29)29 April 1989 (aged 24) 2 0 Botswana Township Rollers
2DF Moreetsi Mosimanyana (1985-05-05)5 May 1985 (aged 23) 3 0 Botswana Botswana Defence Force
2DF Osego Gaotewe (1987-03-28)28 March 1987 (aged 26) 1 0 Botswana Gaborone United
2DF Kaelo Kgaswane (1992-12-22)22 December 1992 (aged 20) 1 0 Botswana Gaborone United
2DF Gogontle Marumo 0 0 Botswana Uniao Flamengo Santos
2DF Simisani Mathumo (1989-12-08)8 December 1989 (aged 24) 0 0 Botswana Township Rollers
2DF Agisanyang Ramaabya (1982-10-17)17 October 1982 (aged 31) 0 0 Botswana Extension Gunners
5 2DF Mompati Thuma (1980-04-05)5 April 1980 (aged 33) 73 1 Botswana Botswana Defence Force
21 2DF Tshepo Motlhabankwe (1980-03-17)17 March 1980 (aged 31) 58 2 Botswana Mochudi Centre Chiefs
2 2DF Gaopatwe Seosenyeng (1988-01-25)25 January 1988 (aged 25) 3 0 Botswana Gaborone United
2 2DF Ndiapo Letsholathebe (1983-02-25)25 February 1983 (aged 28) 60 0 Botswana Botswana Defence Force
3 2DF Mosimanegape Ramoshibidu (1982-02-22)22 February 1982 (aged 29) 20 0 Botswana BMC
3MF Sekhana Koko (1989-06-05)5 June 1989 (aged 21) 10 0 Botswana Township Rollers
3MF Lebogang Ditsele (1996-04-20)20 April 1996 (aged 18) 2 0 Botswana Jwaneng Comets
3MF Keorapetse Seloiso 1 0 Botswana Notwane
7 3MF Dirang Moloi (1985-11-28)28 November 1985 (aged 26) 19 0 Democratic Republic of the Congo Don Bosco
15 3MF Galabgwe Moyana (1990-05-24)24 May 1990 (aged 21) 14 0 South Africa Polokwane City
3MF Kabo Rasuping (1992-02-10)10 February 1992 (aged 22) 0 0 Botswana Gaborone United
8 3MF Phenyo Mongala (1985-06-10)10 June 1985 (aged 26) 23 1 Democratic Republic of the Congo Don Bosco
10 3MF Ntesang Simanyana (1990-12-02)2 December 1990 (aged 21) 8 1 Botswana Gaborone United
3 3MF Topo Piet (1988-12-11)11 December 1988 (aged 24) 5 0 Botswana Nico United
13 3MF Gift Moyo (1990-08-20)20 August 1990 (aged 22) 4 0 Botswana Nico United
2 3MF Abednico Powell (1983-01-28)28 January 1983 (aged 28) 3 0 Botswana Mogoditshane Fighters
13 3MF Alphonse Modisaotsile (1985-01-30)30 January 1985 (aged 26) 7 0 Botswana Gaborone United
4FW Tebogo Sembowa (1988-02-07)7 February 1988 (aged 23) 16 3 Botswana Gaborone United
4FW Kelelelo Kgosimore 1 0 Botswana Extension Gunners
10 4FW Moemedi Moatlhaping (1985-07-14)14 July 1985 (aged 26) 40 4 Botswana Gaborone United

Managers

References

  1. "BBC Sport – Football – Minnows Botswana qualify for Africa Cup of Nations". BBC News. 2011-03-26. Retrieved 2013-11-15.
  2. "BBC Sport – Football – Botswana sack coach Tshosane". BBC News. 2013-10-08. Retrieved 2014-04-16.
  3. "BBC Sport – Football – Englishman Peter Butler appointed as Botswana coach". BBC News. 2014-02-10. Retrieved 2014-04-16.
  4. "Zebras ready for Djurtus". Daily News (Botswana). 2014-07-16. Retrieved 2014-07-16.

External links

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