The Botswana national football team was founded in 1970 to represent
Botswana
Botswana (, ), officially the Republic of Botswana ( tn, Lefatshe la Botswana, label= Setswana, ), is a landlocked country in Southern Africa. Botswana is topographically flat, with approximately 70 percent of its territory being the Kalaha ...
in
association football
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a team sport played between two teams of 11 players who primarily use their feet to propel the ball around a rectangular field called a pitch. The objective of the game is ...
It took part in its first preliminary competition for the
1994 World Cup
The 1994 FIFA World Cup was the 15th FIFA World Cup, the world championship for men's national soccer teams. It was hosted by the United States and took place from June 17 to July 17, 1994, at nine venues across the country. The United States w ...
in the
United States
The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territori ...
, where it faced
Niger
)
, official_languages =
, languages_type = National languagesIvory Coast. It managed a 0–0 draw with the latter in
Gaborone
Gaborone ( , , ) is the capital and largest city of Botswana with a population of 246,325 based on the 2022 census, about 10% of the total population of Botswana. Its agglomeration is home to 421,907 inhabitants at the 2011 census.
Gaboron ...
, and lost its other 3 matches, finishing last in its group.
The next competition it entered was for the
2002 World Cup
The 2002 FIFA World Cup, also branded as Korea Japan 2002, was the 17th FIFA World Cup, the quadrennial football world championship for men's national teams organized by FIFA. It was held from 31 May to 30 June 2002 at sites in South Korea an ...
, where it faced
Zambia
Zambia (), officially the Republic of Zambia, is a landlocked country at the crossroads of Central, Southern and East Africa, although it is typically referred to as being in Southern Africa at its most central point. Its neighbours are t ...
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
South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the Southern Africa, southernmost country in Africa. It is bounded to the south by of coastline that stretch along the Atlantic Ocean, South Atlantic and Indian Oceans; to the ...
and
Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe (), officially the Republic of Zimbabwe, is a landlocked country located in Southeast Africa, between the Zambezi and Limpopo Rivers, bordered by South Africa to the south, Botswana to the south-west, Zambia to the north, and ...
at home in Gaborone. A draw with
Madagascar
Madagascar (; mg, Madagasikara, ), officially the Republic of Madagascar ( mg, Repoblikan'i Madagasikara, links=no, ; french: République de Madagascar), is an island country in the Indian Ocean, approximately off the coast of East Africa ...
which was ranked at 146th in the world at the time, led Botswana FA to sack manager
Colwyn Rowe
Colwyn Roger Rowe (born 22 March 1956) is an English football coach and former professional player.
Career
Playing career
Rowe began his professional career in 1973 with Colchester United, before signing with Chelmsford City in 1975.
Coachin ...
, who lead Botswana to its then-highest ever
FIFA ranking
The FIFA Men's World Ranking is a ranking system for men's national teams in association football, led by Brazil . The teams of the men's member nations of FIFA, football's world governing body, are ranked based on their game results with the ...
of 95th. BFA claimed this move was taken because it feared for his safety from angry fans.
Stanley Tshosane
Stanley Tshoshane is a Botswana, Batswana association football, football manager (association football), manager.
He was appointed to the position of Botswana national football team, Botswana manager in 2008, following a short spell as caretake ...
was named as his replacement and in his first game in charge, Botswana achieved a 2–1 win away to
Mozambique
Mozambique (), officially the Republic of Mozambique ( pt, Moçambique or , ; ny, Mozambiki; sw, Msumbiji; ts, Muzambhiki), is a country located in southeastern Africa bordered by the Indian Ocean to the east, Tanzania to the north, Malawi ...
. While achieving a draw with Ivory Coast, Botswana finished bottom of its qualifying group for the
2010 World Cup
, image = 2010 FIFA World Cup.svg
, size = 200px
, caption = ''Ke Nako. (Tswana and Sotho for "It's time") Celebrate Africa's Humanity'It's time. Celebrate Africa's Humanity'' (English)''Dis tyd. Vier Afrika se mensd ...
in
South Africa
South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the Southern Africa, southernmost country in Africa. It is bounded to the south by of coastline that stretch along the Atlantic Ocean, South Atlantic and Indian Oceans; to the ...
.
Botswana defied its ranking to become the first team to qualify for the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations, beating
Tunisia
)
, image_map = Tunisia location (orthographic projection).svg
, map_caption = Location of Tunisia in northern Africa
, image_map2 =
, capital = Tunis
, largest_city = capital
, ...
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
Ghana (; tw, Gaana, ee, Gana), officially the Republic of Ghana, is a country in West Africa. It abuts the Gulf of Guinea and the Atlantic Ocean to the south, sharing borders with Ivory Coast in the west, Burkina Faso in the north, and To ...
and
Mali
Mali (; ), officially the Republic of Mali,, , ff, 𞤈𞤫𞤲𞥆𞤣𞤢𞥄𞤲𞤣𞤭 𞤃𞤢𞥄𞤤𞤭, Renndaandi Maali, italics=no, ar, جمهورية مالي, Jumhūriyyāt Mālī is a landlocked country in West Africa. Mal ...
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
The 2013 Africa Cup of Nations, also known as the Orange Africa Cup of Nations South Africa 2013 for sponsorship reasons, held from 19 January to 10 February 2013, was the 29th Africa Cup of Nations, the football championship of Africa organized ...
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
The 2014 FIFA World Cup was the 20th FIFA World Cup, the quadrennial world championship for men's national football teams organised by FIFA. It took place in Brazil from 12 June to 13 July 2014, after the country was awarded the hosting righ ...
, finishing third in its group with 7 points behind South Africa and
Ethiopia
Ethiopia, , om, Itiyoophiyaa, so, Itoobiya, ti, ኢትዮጵያ, Ítiyop'iya, aa, Itiyoppiya officially the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, is a landlocked country in the Horn of Africa. It shares borders with Eritrea to the ...
.
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
Guinea-Bissau ( ; pt, Guiné-Bissau; ff, italic=no, 𞤘𞤭𞤲𞤫 𞤄𞤭𞤧𞤢𞥄𞤱𞤮, Gine-Bisaawo, script=Adlm; Mandinka: ''Gine-Bisawo''), officially the Republic of Guinea-Bissau ( pt, República da Guiné-Bissau, links=no ), ...
in the knockout rounds, it finished last in its qualifying group for the
2015 Africa Cup of Nations
The 2015 Africa Cup of Nations, known as the Orange Africa Cup of Nations, Equatorial Guinea 2015 for sponsorship reasons, was the 30th staging of the Africa Cup of Nations, the international men's football championship of Africa. It was orga ...
with a single point. In its qualifying group for the
2017 Africa Cup of Nations
The 2017 Africa Cup of Nations (abbreviated as AFCON 2017 or CAN 2017), known as the Total 2017 Africa Cup of Nations for sponsorship reasons, was the 31st edition of the Africa Cup of Nations, the biennial international men's football champions ...
, it finished third - 7 points behind qualifiers Burkina Faso and Uganda. In the qualifiers for the
2018 World Cup
The 2018 FIFA World Cup was the 21st FIFA World Cup, the quadrennial world championship for men's national Association football, football teams organized by FIFA. It took place in Russia from 14 June to 15 July 2018, after the country was awa ...
, 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
Bamako ( bm, ߓߡߊ߬ߞߐ߬ ''Bàmakɔ̌'', ff, 𞤄𞤢𞤥𞤢𞤳𞤮 ''Bamako'') is the capital and largest city of Mali, with a 2009 population of 1,810,366 and an estimated 2022 population of 2.81 million. It is located on the Niger Rive ...
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
The 2019 Africa Cup of Nations (abbreviated as AFCON 2019 or CAN 2019), known as the Total 2019 Africa Cup of Nations for sponsorship reasons, was the 32nd edition of the Africa Cup of Nations, the biennial international men's football championshi ...
, in which Botswana scored only 1 goal in its 6 Group I matches.
Fixtures
2022
2023
Coaching history
:Caretaker managers are listed in ''italics''.
* Thomas Johnson (1973)
*
Rudi Gutendorf
Rudolf Gutendorf (30 August 1926 – 13 September 2019) was a German football manager, renowned for managing the highest number of national teams – a total of 18 teams plus Iran's Olympic team in 1988 and the China Olympic team in 1992 ...
Freddie Mwila
Freddie Mwila (born 6 July 1946) is a Zambian former association football player and coach. Rated as one of the country's greatest players and coaches, he featured for Rhokana United and was one of the first Zambians to play professional foo ...
(1992–1994)
*
Freddie Mwila
Freddie Mwila (born 6 July 1946) is a Zambian former association football player and coach. Rated as one of the country's greatest players and coaches, he featured for Rhokana United and was one of the first Zambians to play professional foo ...
Colwyn Rowe
Colwyn Roger Rowe (born 22 March 1956) is an English football coach and former professional player.
Career
Playing career
Rowe began his professional career in 1973 with Colchester United, before signing with Chelmsford City in 1975.
Coachin ...
(2006–2008)
*
Stanley Tshosane
Stanley Tshoshane is a Botswana, Batswana association football, football manager (association football), manager.
He was appointed to the position of Botswana national football team, Botswana manager in 2008, following a short spell as caretake ...
Mogomotsi Mpote
Mogomotsi Mpote is a Motswana former footballer and manager currently in charge of club Botswana.
Mpote played as a striker or classic number nine. Beginning his career as a teenager at Miscellaneous in 1976, he was nicknamed 'Teenage' becaus ...
Mogomotsi Mpote
Mogomotsi Mpote is a Motswana former footballer and manager currently in charge of club Botswana.
Mpote played as a striker or classic number nine. Beginning his career as a teenager at Miscellaneous in 1976, he was nicknamed 'Teenage' becaus ...
Rahman Gumbo
Rahman Gumbo is a Zimbabwean retired footballer and currently manages Sue Flamingos.
Career
He was initially appointed to the managerial position of Zimbabwe in 2005, but was sacked following a 3–0 loss against Nigeria.
He was appointed as ...
'' (2022)
*
Mogomotsi Mpote
Mogomotsi Mpote is a Motswana former footballer and manager currently in charge of club Botswana.
Mpote played as a striker or classic number nine. Beginning his career as a teenager at Miscellaneous in 1976, he was nicknamed 'Teenage' becaus ...
(2022–)
Players
Current squad
* The following players were called up for the friendly match.
* Match dates: 17 November 2022
* Opposition:
* Caps and goals correct as of: 27 September 2022, after the match against .
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.''