How Botswana defied the odds to reach the Africa Cup of Nations
In short: From unofficial matches in the late 1960s to competing on the continental stage, the Botswana national football team has navigated a volatile journey of coaching changes and unexpected triumphs. Despite frequent managerial shifts, the Zebras have secured their place in the Africa Cup of Nations and found success in the COSAFA Cup.
The Botswana national football team, known as the Zebras, has a history marked by significant fluctuations in performance and leadership. After their first unofficial match—an 8–1 loss to Malawi on 13 July 1968—the team gained official affiliation with CAF in early 1976. Their first official match followed on 30 August 1976, a 3–2 defeat against Zambia. While the team joined FIFA in 1978, they have yet to qualify for a FIFA World Cup.
The team's most significant achievement occurred when they defied their ranking to qualify for the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations, securing victories against Tunisia both at home and away. This success propelled them to their highest-ever FIFA ranking of 53rd. However, they struggled to maintain this momentum, finishing bottom of their group in that tournament with zero points after losses to Ghana, Mali, and Guinea.
Management stability has been a recurring challenge for the Botswana Football Association (BFA), founded in 1970. The team has seen numerous managerial shifts, including the sacking of Colwyn Rowe following a draw with Madagascar, the departure of Stanley Tshosane in 2013, and the resignation of Didier Gomes Da Rosa during the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualification campaign. Despite these shifts, the team secured qualification for their second Africa Cup of Nations in 2025, aided by a 1–1 draw against Egypt.
On the regional stage, Botswana has found consistent competition in the annual COSAFA Cup, which features Southern African nations. Their most notable performance in this tournament includes finishing as runners-up in both the 2016 and 2019 editions.
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