Botswana national football team

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Botswana

Nickname(s)

The Zebras

Association

Botswana Football Association

Confederation

CAF (Africa)

Head coach

Vacant

Home stadium

Botswana National Stadium

FIFA code

BOT

FIFA ranking

112

Highest FIFA ranking

95 (September 2007)

Lowest FIFA ranking

165 (November 1999)

Elo ranking

123





First kit





Second kit

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)

The Botswana national football team, nicknamed The Zebras, or EZIMBIZI is the national team of Botswana and is controlled by the Botswana Football Association. They have never qualified for the finals of the World Cup nor the African Nations Cup.

1 History
2 World Cup record
3 African Nations Cup record
4 Former Managers
5 Notable players
6 Current squad
7 External links

[edit] History

Even though Botswana have thrice entered the FIFA World Cup preliminary stages, 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 finals in the USA, where they faced Niger and Cote 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 Korea/Japan 2002, where they faced Zambia in a two-legged tie to decide which team would advance to the group stages. Zambia won both matches to qualify, while Botswana were knocked out.

Recently Botswana had 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 Gabarone. This led to some supporters getting frustrated. In the first match in the world cup 2008 and african cup of nations 2008 qualifiers Botswana drew at home with a Madagascar side who are ranked 146th in the world. This led to the Botswana fa sacking manager Colwyn Rowe despite him being the man to lead Botswana to their highest ever ranking of 95th. They claimed this was 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 srong position in their qualifying group.

[edit] World Cup record

1930 to 1990 - Did not enter
1994 - Did not qualify
1998 - Did not enter
2002 to 2006 - Did not qualify

[edit] African Nations Cup record

1957 to 1992 - Did not enter
1994 to 2008 - Did not qualify

[edit] Former Managers

Peter Cormack (1986-87)

[edit] Notable players

Tshepiso Molwantwa
Dipsy Selolwane
Mogogi Gabonamong
Modiri Marumo
Moemedi Moatlhaping
Dirang Moloi
Pontsho Moloi
Ernest Amos
Ndiapo Letsholathebe
Tshepo Motlhabankwe
Michael Mogaladi

[edit] Current squad

The following players were called for 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification against Madagascar on May 31, 2008.

No.	Pos.	Player	DoB (Age)	Club
1	GK	Modiri Marumo	July 6, 1976	Haras El Hodood
16	GK	Raphael Nthwane		Mochudi Centre Chiefs
2	DF	Ndiapo Letsholathebe	February 25, 1983	Police XI
5	DF	Mompati Thuma	April 5, 1980	Botswana Defence Force XI
14	DF	Ernest Amos	September 12, 1975	TASC FC
18	DF	Khumo Motlhabane	February 17, 1981	Flamengo Santos
3	MF	Keoagetse Radipotsane	September 16, 1982	Notwane FC
4	MF	Michael Mogaladi	July 7, 1982	Maritzburg United
6	MF	Nelson Gabolwelwe	September 3, 1977	Botswana Defence Force XI
8	MF	Tshepo Motlhabankwe	March 17, 1980	Mochudi Centre Chiefs
12	MF	Vincent Phiri		Flamengo Santos
13	MF	Boitumelo Mafoko	February 11, 1982	Township Rollers
15	MF	Dirang Moloi	July 15, 1986	Notwane FC
17	MF	Joel Mogorosi	August 2, 1984	APOP
7	FW	Pontsho Moloi	November 28, 1981	Mochudi Centre Chiefs
9	FW	Malepa Boleleng	February 25, 1982	ECCO City Green
10	FW	Mpho Mabogo	July 28, 1980	Mochudi Centre Chiefs
11	FW	Diphetogo Selolwane	January 27, 1978	Ajax Cape Town