Botswana women's national football team

❧

Wikipedia

Botswana

Nickname(s)

The Mares^[1]
The Zebras^[2]

Association

Botswana Football Association

Confederation

CAF (Africa)

Sub-confederation

COSAFA
(Southern Africa)

Head coach

Basimanebotlhe Malete

Captain

Sedilame Boseja

Home stadium

Botswana National Stadium

FIFA code

BOT

First colours

Second colours

Third colours

FIFA ranking

Current

146

7 (7 August 2025)^[3]

Highest

102 (July 2003)

Lowest

154 (December 2021 – March 2022)

First international

South Africa 14–0 Botswana

(Harare, Zimbabwe; April 19, 2002)

Biggest win

Botswana 7–0 Mauritius

(Lobatse, Botswana; March 5, 2016)

Botswana 7–0 South Sudan

(Port Elizabeth, South Africa; September 29, 2021)

Biggest defeat

South Africa 14–0 Botswana

(Harare, Zimbabwe; April 19, 2002)

World Cup

Appearances

Olympic Games

Appearances

Women's Africa Cup of Nations

Appearances

2 (first in 2022)

Best result

Quarter-finals (2022)

The Botswana women's national football team ^[4] is the women's national football team of Botswana and is controlled by the Botswana Football Association. They qualified for their maiden Women's Africa Cup of Nations tournament 2022 in Morocco where they made it to the quarterfinals.^[5]^[6]

History

Botswana played their first match in Harare, Zimbabwe on April 19, 2002, against South Africa in a series of friendlies. They lost 14–0. After this match, they lost 3–0 against Swaziland and 7–1 against Mozambique, where they scored their first goal.

Botswana's first major competition was in the 2008 African Women's Championship qualification where after 5 years, they played an international match, this time against Namibia. The Mares lost both legs by 3–0 and 6–1.

Botswana had played with Zambia on 4 May 2008 and lost 4–2.

With a U20 team, Zebras played 2010 African Women's Championship qualifiers against Congo DR and again lost both legs, this time by 2–0 and 5–2 and did not qualify for either the 2010 African Women's Championship and the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup

A series of friendlies occurred in October 2010, against Zambia on 2 and 23 October. They lost 1–4 and 1–2 respectively; against Tanzania on 25 October and 26 October, lost 2–3 and draw 1–1. In the next year, March 2011, they again played against Namibia and lost 1–0.

In 2011, one of the two friendlies in April and May with South Africa marked their first victory, by 1–0. The other match was lost 4–0. In August, they played against Tanzania on 2 August, losing 3–1; South Africa on August 3, losing 4–0 and against Zambia, also losing, 4–1.

They entered the 2012 African Women's Championship qualifiers and played against Zimbabwe, and were eliminated by an aggregate score of 3–1, due to losing the two legs by 1–0 and 2–1. Last friendlies in 2012 included two losses against South Africa (3–0) and Zimbabwe (5–0).

Before the 2014 African Women's Championship qualifiers, the team played the first 2014 matches, against Swaziland on 7 and 8 January and won for the second and third time, by 3–0 and 3–1. The first leg of the qualifiers for the African Championship started on 14 February with a loss against Zimbabwe 1–0 and the second leg was played on 2 March, with another loss, by 2–1. Botswana were eliminated from the African Championship and the World Cup. On June 7 of the same year, they played against South Africa, losing 4–0.

Women's Africa Cup of Nations

They made their debut at the 2022 Women's Africa Cup of Nations. They won their first match 4-2 against fellow debutants Burundi and lost their next two matches 2-0 against Nigeria and 1-0 against South Africa to finish third in group C.^[7] They qualified for the quarterfinals as the second best third ranked team where they lost 2-1 against hosts Morocco.^[8]^[9]

Team image

Home stadium

The Botswana women's national football team plays their home matches at the Botswana National Stadium.

Results and fixtures

The following is a list of match results in the last 12 months, as well as any future matches that have been scheduled.

Legend

Win Draw Lose Fixture

2024

27 February Friendly	Russia	4–0	Botswana	Antalya, Turkey
16:00 UTC+2	Belomyttseva 3', 86' (pen.) Fedorova 9' Smirnova 42'	Report

6 April 2024 (2024-04-06) Friendly	Botswana	2–1	Lesotho	Tlokweng, Botswana
16:00 UTC+2	Moloi 32' Dithebe 48'		Ts'oaeli 73'	Stadium: Royal Aria Stadium

9 April 2024 (2024-04-09) Friendly	Botswana	1–1	Namibia	Tlokweng, Botswana
16:00	Senwelo 36'		Coleman 38'	Stadium: Royal Aria Stadium

13 July 2024 Tunis Women's Cup	Botswana	0–0	Tanzania	Tunis, Tunisia
15:00 UTC+1				Stadium: Chedly Zouiten Stadium

15 July 2024 Tunis Women's Cup	Tunisia	1–0	Botswana	Tunis, Tunisia
15:00 UTC+1	Shaiek 75'			Stadium: Chedly Zouiten Stadium

23 October 2024 (2024-10-23) 2024 COSAFA WC GS	Malawi	1–1	Botswana	Ibhayi, South Africa
15:00 UTC+2	Chizimu 28'	Report	Moloi 40'	Stadium: Isaac Wolfson Stadium Referee: Nteboheleng Setoko (Lesotho)

26 October 2024 (2024-10-26) 2024 COSAFA WC GS	Botswana	5–0	Mauritius	Gqeberha, South Africa
12:00 UTC+2	Dithebe 5' Ontlametse 45+4' Modise 58', 60', 69' (pen.)	Report		Stadium: Madibaz Stadium Referee: Tania Marisa Duarte (Angola)

28 October 2024 (2024-10-28) 2024 COSAFA WC GS	Madagascar	0–0	Botswana	Ibhayi, South Africa
12:00 UTC+2		Report		Stadium: Isaac Wolfson Stadium Referee: Mercy Chipo Mayimbo (Zimbabwe)

28 November 2024 (2024-11-28) Friendly	Morocco	3–1	Botswana	Tétouan, Morocco
18:00 UTC+1	Jraïdi 6', 45' Kassi 40'	Report	Moloi 71'	Stadium: Saniat Rmel Stadium Referee: Aida Sy (Senegal)

1 December 2024 (2024-12-01) Friendly	Mali	0–1	Botswana	Tanger, Morocco
16:00 UTC+1		Report	Moloi 61'	Stadium: Tanger Stadium

2025

20 February 2025 (2025-02-20) 2026 WAFCON qualifying	Botswana	0–2	DR Congo	Francistown, Botswana
15:00 UTC+2		Report	Gaofetoge 1' (o.g.) Mabomba 90+8'	Stadium: Francistown Stadium

26 February 2025 (2025-02-26) 2026 WAFCON qualifying	DR Congo	0–0 (2–0 agg.)	Botswana	Kinshasa, Congo DR
17:00 UTC+1		Report		Stadium: Stade des Martyrs Referee: Shamirah Nabadda (Uganda)
Note: DR Congo won 2–0 on aggregate.

28 May 2025 (2025-05-28) Nations Challenge	South Africa	3–2	Botswana	Pretoria, South Africa
15:00 UTC+2	Mibe 13' Seoposenwe 16', 36'	Report	Radiakanyo 41' Moloi 63'	Stadium: Lucas Moripe Stadium

31 May 2025 (2025-05-31) Nations Challenge	Botswana	1–1	Zambia	Pretoria, South Africa
15:00 UTC+2	Ontlametse 80'	Report	B. Banda 63'	Stadium: Lucas Moripe Stadium

6 July 2025 (2025-07-06) 2024 WAFCON GS	Algeria	1–0	Botswana	Casablanca, Morocco
20:00 UTC+1	Karchouni 11'			Stadium: Père Jégo Stadium Referee: Yacine Samassa (Mauritania)

10 July CAF WAFCON 2024 GS	Botswana	0-1	Nigeria	Casablanca, Morocco
20:00 UTC+1		Report	Ihezuo 89'	Stadium: Larbi Zaouli Stadium Referee: Aline Umutoni (Rwanda)

13 July 2024 WAFCON GS	Tunisia	1-2	Botswana	Casablanca, Morocco
20:00 UTC+0	Khanchouch 12'	Report	Radiakanyo 66' Ontlametse 90+5'	Stadium: Père Jégo Stadium Referee: Aline Guimbang Etong (Cameroon)

Source: globalsportsarchive.com

Coaching staff

Current coaching staff

As of 7 November 2023

Position	Name	Ref.
Head coach	Basimanebotlhe Alex Malete	^[10]
Assistant coach	Tapaphiwa Tracy Gaebolae
Assistant coach	Jacqualine Lorato Gaobinelwe
Goalkeeper coach	David Puso
Physician	Kealebogga K. Rakereng

Manager history

Gaoletlhoo Nkutlwisang (2021–2023)
Basimanebotlhe Alex Malete(2023–)

Players

Current squad

The following 24 players were called up for the 2024 Women's Africa Cup of Nations, taking place from 5 to 27 July 2025.^[11]

Caps and goals accurate up to and including 12 July 2025.

No.	Pos.	Player	Date of birth (age)	Caps	Goals	Club
1	1GK	Tlamelo Pheresi	(1996-11-30) 30 November 1996 (age 28)	0	0	Gaborone United
16	1GK	Sedilame Boseja	(1997-12-01) 1 December 1997 (age 27)	10	0	Mamelodi Sundowns
23	1GK	Lesego Moeng	(1998-02-03) 3 February 1998 (age 27)	6	0	TS Galaxy

2	2DF	Kesegofetse Mochawe	(1995-07-30) 30 July 1995 (age 30)	0	0	Gaborone United
4	2DF	Masego Montsho	(1991-06-15) 15 June 1991 (age 34)	0	0	Security Systems
8	2DF	Lone Gaofetoge	(2001-07-16) 16 July 2001 (age 24)	0	0	Hakkarigücü Spor
9	2DF	Mokgabo Thanda	(1993-04-03) 3 April 1993 (age 32)	0	0	Green Buffaloes
14	2DF	Veronicah Mogotsi	(1992-08-21) 21 August 1992 (age 32)	0	0	Double Action
22	2DF	Boitumelo Gammu	(1995-07-23) 23 July 1995 (age 30)	0	0	Ongos

3	3MF	Nancy Baeletsi	(1996-03-21) 21 March 1996 (age 29)	0	0	Gaborone United
5	3MF	Leungo Senwelo	(2001-12-23) 23 December 2001 (age 23)	0	0	Mazotie
6	3MF	Golebaone Selebatso	(1991-03-22) 22 March 1991 (age 34)	0	0	Gaborone United
12	3MF	Obonetse Rathari	(2002-11-11) 11 November 2002 (age 22)	0	0	Gaborone United
17	3MF	Esalenna Galekhutle	(2001-01-23) 23 January 2001 (age 24)	0	0	William Carey University
19	3MF	Laone Moloi	(2000-11-26) 26 November 2000 (age 24)	0	0	Double Action
21	3MF	Tshegofatso Mosotho	(2002-06-19) 19 June 2002 (age 23)	0	0	Mazotie

7	4FW	Refilwe Tholakele	(1996-01-26) 26 January 1996 (age 29)	15	8	Mamelodi Sundowns
10	4FW	Lesego Radiakanyo	(1999-06-27) 27 June 1999 (age 26)	0	0	Gaborone United
11	4FW	Michelle Abueng	(2001-05-06) 6 May 2001 (age 24)	0	0	Botswana Defence Force
13	4FW	Keitumetse Dithebe	(2002-07-17) 17 July 2002 (age 23)	0	0	ABB Fomget
15	4FW	Balotlhanyi Johannes	(1994-06-28) 28 June 1994 (age 31)	0	0	Double Action
18	4FW	Nondi Mahlasela	(1991-12-25) 25 December 1991 (age 33)	0	0	Prisons XI
20	4FW	Gaonyadiwe Ontlametse	(2000-01-12) 12 January 2000 (age 25)	0	0	Gaborone United
24	4FW	Peggy Manewe	(2004-12-25) 25 December 2004 (age 20)	0	0	Double Action
25	4FW	Yaone Modise	(2005-12-09) 9 December 2005 (age 19)	0	0	Gaborone United
26	4FW	Jessica Maponga	(2004-02-24) 24 February 2004 (age 21)	0	0	Gaborone United

Recent call-ups

The following players have been called up to a Botswana squad in the past 12 months.

Pos.	Player	Date of birth (age)	Caps	Goals	Club	Latest call-up
GK	Bame Mokibe	(1998-11-28) 28 November 1998 (age 26)	2	0	Double Action	v. Tunisia, 15 July 2024
GK	Doris Motshegwe	(2002-04-12) 12 April 2002 (age 23)			Wonder Girls	v. DR Congo,26 February 2025

DF	Lorato Motlogelwa	(2003-03-24) 24 March 2003 (age 22)			Makufa SC	v. Tunisia, 15 July 2024
DF	Neo Repito				Mexican Girls	v. Tunisia, 15 July 2024
DF	Oteng Bonang	(1998-12-28) 28 December 1998 (age 26)	0	0	Gaborone United	v. Zambia, 31 May 2025
DF	Desiree Kenyaditswe	(2004-02-20) 20 February 2004 (age 21)	11	0	Double Action	v. Zambia, 31 May 2025

MF	Annah Nametso Sechane	(2001-02-07) 7 February 2001 (age 24)			Gaborone United	v. Russia, 27 February 2024
MF	Precious Tlhapi	(2002-05-11) 11 May 2002 (age 23)			Makufa SC	v. Tunisia, 15 July 2024
MF	Oratile Rathari	(2002-11-11) 11 November 2002 (age 22)	2	0	Double Action	v. Tunisia, 15 July 2024
MF	Tshegofatso Mosotho	(2002-06-19) 19 June 2002 (age 23)	0	0	Mazzoti

FW	Dimpho Senwelo				Western Daynamites	v. Namibia, 9 April 2024
FW	Lesego Keleboge				Security Systems	v. Russia, 27 February 2024
FW	Atang Busang				Gaborone United	v. Mali, 1 December 2024
FW	Jessica Modise	(2005-12-09) 9 December 2005 (age 19)	0	0	Gaborone United	v. Zambia, 31 May 2025
FW	Nolofatso Mamela		0	0	NICO United	v. Zambia, 31 May 2025

Previous squads

Africa Women Cup of Nations

2022 Women's Africa Cup of Nations squads

COSAFA Women's Championship

Records

Active players in bold, statistics correct as of 2020.

Most capped players

This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (September 2020)

#	Player	Year(s)	Caps

Top goalscorers

This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (September 2020)

#	Player	Year(s)	Goals	Caps

Honours

Regional

COSAFA Women's Championship

Runners-up: 2020

Competitive record

FIFA Women's World Cup

FIFA Women's World Cup record
Year	Result	GP	W	D*	L	GF	GA	GD
1991	Did not enter
1995
1999
2003
2007
2011	Did not qualify
2015
2019
2023
2027
2031	To be determined
2035	To be determined
Total	0/12	-	-	-	-	-	-	-

*Draws include knockout matches decided on penalty kicks.

Olympic Games

Summer Olympics record
Year	Result	Matches	Wins	Draws	Losses	GF	GA
1996	Did Not Enter
2000
2004
2008
2012	Did Not Qualify
2016
2021
2024
2028	To be determined
Total	0/9	0	0	0	0	0	0

Africa Women Cup of Nations

Africa Women Cup of Nations record
Year	Result	Matches	Wins	Draws	Losses	GF	GA
1991	Did not enter
1995
1998
2000
2002	Withdrew
2004	Did not enter
2006	Withdrew
2008	Did not qualify
2010
2012
2014
2016
2018
2020	Cancelled
2022	Quarter-finals	4	1	0	3	5	7
2024	Group stage	3	1	0	2	2	3
2026	Did not qualify
Total	2/16	7	2	0	5	7	10

African Games

African Games record
Year	Result	Matches	Wins	Draws	Losses	GF	GA
2003	Did Not Enter
2007	Did Not Enter
2011	Did Not Qualify
2015
2019
2023
2027	TBD
Total	0/5	0	0	0	0	0	0

COSAFA Women's Championship

COSAFA Women's Championship record
Year	Round	Pld	W	D*	L	GS	GA	GD
2002	Group Stage	3	0	0	3	1	24	−23
2006	Did not enter
2008	----
2011	Group Stage	3	0	0	3	2	11	−9
2017	Group Stage	3	1	1	1	4	5	−1
2018	Group Stage	3	1	1	1	2	1	+1
2019	Fourth	4	2	1	1	4	4	0
2020	Runner -up	4	3	0	1	5	3	+2
2021	Group Stage	3	1	0	2	7	5	+2
2023	Group stage	3	1	2	0	5	2	+3
Total	Runner-up	23	9	5	12	30	55	-25

*Draws include knockout matches decided on penalty kicks.

Honours

This section is empty. You can help by adding to it. (February 2022)

All−time record against FIFA recognized nations

The list shown below shows the Djibouti national football team all−time international record against opposing nations.
*As of xxxxxx after match against xxxx.

Key

Positive balance (more wins than losses)

Neutral balance (as many wins as losses)

Negative balance (more losses than wins)

Against	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Confederation

Record per opponent

*As ofxxxxx after match against xxxxx.

Key

Positive balance (more wins than losses)

Neutral balance (as many wins as losses)

Negative balance (more losses than wins)

The following table shows Djibouti's all-time official international record per opponent:

Opponent	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	W%	Confederation

Total									—

References

↑ Keagakwa, City (24 February 2024). "Sundowns, GU chase Mares' stars". Botswana Guardian. Retrieved 24 July 2023.
↑ Kebonang, Segametsi (24 May 2015). "Botswana: Zebras Women Make Nation Proud". Botswana Daily News. Retrieved 24 July 2023.
↑ "The FIFA/Coca-Cola Women's World Ranking". FIFA. 7 August 2025. Retrieved 7 August 2025.
↑ "Botswana Women". betsapi.com. Retrieved 2024-10-04.
↑ Mailwane, Tshepang Moeketsi (2022-02-24). "AWCON 2022: Botswana make history and players get rewarded - Feminine zone". Sport News Africa. Retrieved 2024-10-04.
↑ Boranabi, Chakalisa Dube,Lebogang Mosikare,Kabelo (2022-02-26). "Coach undeterred by contract issue". Mmegi Online. Retrieved 2022-03-22.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
↑ Nigeria, News Agency of (2022-07-05). "WAFCON 2022: Botswana bruise Burundi in six-goal thriller". Peoples Gazette Nigeria. Retrieved 2025-07-06.
↑ "botswana-scale-through-to-seal-maiden-wafcon-berth". botswana-scale-through-to-seal-maiden-wafcon-berth. Retrieved 2025-07-06.
↑ Okinyo, Collins (2022-07-14). "WAFCON 2022 - Hosts Morocco Beat Botswana to book World Cup Ticket, Semi Final Slot". Soka25east. Retrieved 2025-07-06.
↑ "tech staff of Botswana". twitter.
↑ "Botswana off to Morocco: The Mares Begin Their Quest for African Glory!". Botswana Football Association. 17 June 2025. Retrieved 20 June 2025 – via Facebook.

External links

Official website (in English)
FIFA profile, FIFA.com (in English)
Facebook

v t e Botswana squad – 2022 Women's Africa Cup of Nations
1 John 2 Mochawe 3 Baeletsi 4 Montsho 5 George 6 Selebatso 7 Tholakele 8 Gaofetoge 9 Thanda 10 Radiakanyo 11 Ramafifi 12 Otlhagile 13 Dithebe 14 Mogotsi 15 Johannes 16 Boseja 17 Busang 18 Mahlasela 19 Galekhutle 20 Ontlametse 21 Sechane 22 Tlamma 23 Moeng 24 Abueng 25 Tshambani 26 Moloi Coach: Nkutlwisang

Football in Botswana

Botswana Football Association

National teams

Men	National team Olympic (U-23) U-20 U-17
Women	National team U-20 U-17

League system

Men	Botswana Premier League Botswana First Division North South Botswana Division One CHORFA NRFA BORFA FRAFA SPRFA CNRFA TRFA CSRFA KRFA Kgatleng SOFA GRFA SERFA Tsabong KCRFA HRFA Ghanzi Botswana Division Two
Women	Botswana Women's Championship

Domestic cups

Men	FA Challenge Cup Botswana Independence Cup Orange Kabelano Charity Cup Mascom Top 8 Cup

Awards

Lists

Men's clubs
Women's clubs
List of venues
List of leagues
List of international players
- Men
- Women
Records

v t e National women's football teams of Africa (CAF)
North Africa (UNAF)	Algeria Egypt Libya Morocco Tunisia
West Africa (WAFU)	Benin Burkina Faso Cape Verde Gambia Ghana Guinea Guinea-Bissau Ivory Coast Liberia Mali Mauritania Niger Nigeria Senegal Sierra Leone Togo
East Africa (CECAFA)	Burundi Djibouti Eritrea Ethiopia Kenya Rwanda Somalia South Sudan Sudan Tanzania Uganda Zanzibar^†
Central Africa (UNIFFAC)	Cameroon Central African Republic Chad Congo DR Congo Equatorial Guinea Gabon São Tomé and Príncipe
Southern Africa (COSAFA)	Angola Botswana Comoros Eswatini Lesotho Madagascar Malawi Mauritius Mozambique Namibia Seychelles South Africa Zambia Zimbabwe
Non-regional Members	Réunion^†
^†Associate member of CAF but not member of FIFA Football in Africa portal.

v t e National sports teams of Botswana
Badminton Basketball M M U/18 M U/16 W W U/18 W U/16 Cricket M W W U/19 Football M M U/20 W W U/20 W U/17 Netball Softball M W W Jr Squash Tennis M W Volleyball
Olympics Paralympics African Games Commonwealth Games

Botswana women's national football team

History

Women's Africa Cup of Nations

Team image

Home stadium

Results and fixtures

2024

2025

Coaching staff

Current coaching staff

Manager history

Players

Current squad

Recent call-ups

Previous squads

Records

Most capped players

Top goalscorers

Honours

Regional

Competitive record

FIFA Women's World Cup

Olympic Games

Africa Women Cup of Nations

African Games

COSAFA Women's Championship

Honours

All−time record against FIFA recognized nations

Record per opponent

See also

References

External links