Botswana travels to the Africa Cup 2025 with a mix of hope and realism. While not a traditional powerhouse in African football, the Zebras have shown in recent years that they are capable of surprises. Their return to the continental stage is not only an opportunity to gain experience, but also a chance to prove once again that underdog at AFCON often achieve more than expected. For Botswana, this tournament is a chance to write history, break free from a modest past and test themselves against the continent’s established nations.
- Nickname: The Zebras
- Head coach: Morena Ramoreboli
- Football Association: Botswana Football Association
- AFCON appearances: 1 time
- FIFA ranking: 136
Botswana’s Match Schedule
Botswana has been drawn into Group D, alongside Senegal, DR Congo and Benin. Below is their full group stage schedule, including dates, times and venues. So you know exactly when to follow the Zebras.
| 23 December | Group stage |
 Senegal Botswana | 3 0 |
| 27 december | Group stage |
 Benin Botswana | 1 0 |
| 30 december | Group stage |
Botswana DR Congo | 0 3 |
Stats Botwana AFCON 2025
Top scorer
Botswana didn’t score on AFCON 2025.
Assists
Botswana didn’t deliver any assist on AFCON 2025.
Rating
| Player | Rating | |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Goitseone Phoko | 7,9 |
| 2. | Mosha Gaolaolwe | 6,8 |
| 3. | Mothusi Cooper | 6,7 |
| 4. | Thabang Sesinyi | 6,7 |
| 5. | Gape Mohutsiwa | 6,6 |
| 6. | Segolame Boy | 6,6 |
| 7. | Tumisang Orebonye | 6,6 |
| 8. | Godiraone Modingwane | 6,4 |
| 9. | Lebogang Ditsele | 6,4 |
| 10. | Thatayaone Ditlhokwe | 6,4 |
Botswana Squad
Keepers:
Lesenya Malapela (Orapa United), Keoagile Kgosipula (Mochudi Centre Chiefs), Goitseone Phoko (Jwaneng Galaxy), Kabelo Dambe (Township Rollers)
Defenders:
Mosha Gadlaolwe (Township Rollers), Thatayaone Ditlhokwe (Al-Ittihad SC), Shanganani Nganda (Mochudi Centre Chiefs), Tebogo Kopelang (Jwaneng Galaxy), Alford Velaphi (Gaborone United), Mothusi Johnson (Gaborone United), Chicco Molefe (Jwaneng Galaxy), Thabo Leinanyane (Jwaneng Galaxy)
Midfielders:
Godiraone Modingwane (BDF XI), Gape Mohutsiwa (MC Oran), Omphile Vissage (Township Rollers), Mothusi Cooper (Township Rollers), Lebogang Ditsile (Gaborone United), Koketso Majafi (Orapa United), Monty Enosa (Mochudi Centre Chiefs), Olebogeng Ramotse (Jwaneng Galaxy), Gilbert Baruti (Mochudi Centre Chiefs), Thabo Maponda (Gaborone United), Omphile Ramoagi (Gaborone United)
Attackers:
Omaatla Kebatho (Jwaneng Galaxy), Kabelo Seakanyeng (MAS Fès), Thabang Sesinyi (Jwaneng Galaxy), Tumisang Orebonye (Wydad AC), Eric Ookame (Orapa United), Thabang Balatlheng (Township Rollers), Losika Ratshukudu (Ubuntu FC), Thatayaone Kgamanyane (Gaborone United)
Head Coach Botswana
South African coach Morena Ramoreboli has made a strong name for himself in Botswana. Known for upsetting stronger opponents in his homeland, he brought that same underdog spirit to Jwaneng Galaxy (Botswana). Under his leadership, the club shocked the continent by eliminating Orlando Pirates (South Africa) from the CAF Champions League and even defeating former champions Wydad Casablanca in Morocco. His tactical discipline and belief in fearless football are central to Botswana’s AFCON return.
Star Player Botswana
Tumisang “Teenage” Orebonye is without doubt the star of Botswana. After rising to prominence at Township Rollers (Botswana), where he won the league title in 2018/19 and finished as top scorer in domestic cup competitions, he moved to North Africa to further his career. Orebonye became a key striker for USM Alger (Algeria), winning both the CAF Confederation Cup and the CAF Super Cup in 2023, becoming the first Motswana ever to lift such continental silverware. In 2024 he joined AS FAR in Morocco before making a headline move to Al-Ittihad in Libya.
For the national team, Orebonye has been invaluable since his debut in 2017, earning over 50 caps and even scoring a memorable hat-trick in the COSAFA Cup group stage in 2021. His combination of physical strength, goal-scoring instinct and mental resilience has made him a symbol of Botswana’s footballing progress. Just as importantly, his success abroad has paved the way for other Botswanan players to follow in his footsteps.
Botswana AFCON History
Botswana has only one previous AFCON appearance, in 2012. Drawn into a tough group with Ghana, Mali and Guinea, the Zebras battled hard but failed to earn points and exiting the group stage. Despite the early elimination, the appearance was seen as a milestone for the nation’s football, raising Botswana’s international profile and briefly lifting them to their highest-ever FIFA ranking.
That tournament remains a source of pride and motivation, proof that even smaller football nations can fight their way to the big stage. Their return in 2025 is a chance to take the next step.
Road to AFCON 2025
Botswana’s qualifying campaign for AFCON 2025 was dramatic and hard-fought. Drawn into a group with Egypt, Mauritania and Cape Verde, the Zebras had to work for every point. After a slow start, including a loss to Mauritania and defeat against Egypt, they bounced back with double victories over Cape Verde and crucial draws in the return fixtures. Finishing with eight points, Botswana secured second plance in the group and with it, a long-awaited ticket back to the Africa Cup.
| Saturday 7 September 2024 | |
 Mauritania Botswana | 1 0 |
| Tuesday 10 September 2024 | |
Botswana Egypt | 0 4 |
| Thursday 10 October 2024 | |
 Cape Verde Botswana | 0 1 |
| Tuesday 15 October 2024 | |
| Botswana Cape Verde | 1 0 |
| Monday 11 November 2024 | |
| Botswana Mauritania | 1 1 |
| Tuesday 19 November 2024 | |
| Egypt Botswana | 1 1 |
| Team | PTS | G | W | D | L | GD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Egypt | 14 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 0 | +10 |
| Botswana | 8 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 2 | -3 |
| Mauritania | 7 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 3 | -3 |
| Cape Verde | 4 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 4 | -4 |
Stats
Top Scorers
| Player | Goals | |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Tumisang Orebonye | 1 |
| 2. | Thabang Sesinyi | 1 |
| 3. | Gilbert Baruti | 1 |
| 4. | Omaatla Kebatho | 1 |
Assists
| Player | Assists | |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Kabelo Seakanyeng | 2 |
| 2. | Thatayaone Ditlhokwe | 1 |
Players Rating
| Player | Rating | |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Goitseone Phoko | 7,4 |
| 2. | Mothusi Johnson | 7,2 |
| 3. | Tumisang Orebonye | 7,1 |
| 4. | Mosha Gaolaolwe | 6,9 |
| 5. | Chicco Molefe | 6,9 |
| 6. | Gilbert Baruti | 6,9 |
| 7. | Olebogeng Ramotse | 6,9 |
| 8. | Kabelo Seakanyeng | 6,9 |
| 9. | Omaatla Kebatho | 6,8 |
| 10. | Lebogang Ditsele | 6,8 |