News

The Zebras’ AFCON 2025 Opponents Revealed

Jan 28, 2025

The wait is finally over as on January 27, 2025, the eagerly-awaited Final Draw for the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Morocco 2025 took place in Rabat, with the 24 competing teams discovering their groupings.

Botswana will face three formidable opponents, Senegal, a true powerhouse in African football; will be one of the top contenders in Group D. The reigning champions of the 2021 AFCON, enters this year’s tournament as a major threat, with a recent history of success. Their current world ranking of 17 and a strong CAF standing at number 2 further highlight their prominence on the continental stage

The Democratic Republic of Congo, with a rich AFCON history, boasts two championships in 1968 and 1974. Although their world ranking currently stands at 61, they remain a respected force in African football. With 21 appearances in the AFCON, DR Congo is a team that always has the potential to surprise, and their strong CAF ranking of 11 underscores their competitive stature.

Benin, making their fifth appearance in the AFCON, is a team on the rise. Having made it to the quarter-finals in 2019, Benin has proven that they can be tough opponents on the continental stage. Although their world ranking is currently at 94, and their CAF ranking stands at 21, the team’s growing strength and recent success show that they can challenge the bigger teams.

With a diverse and experienced set of competitors in Group D, the Zebras, despite their limited AFCON experience — having only participated in the group stages in 2012—are determined to show their growth and potential. With a current world ranking of 136 and a CAF ranking of 43, Botswana is ready to take on their more established opponents and make a strong impression at the AFCON in Morocco.

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Development

The Mares Display Heart In Tri Nations Challenge

Botswana’s senior women’s national football team recently concluded their campaign in the prestigious Three Nations Challenge, hosted by South Africa from 28 May to 3 June at the Lucas Moripe Stadium. The series saw spirited competition between Botswana, South Africa, and Zambia, as teams continued their preparations for the upcoming Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) qualifiers.

Despite narrowly missing out on the top prize, Botswana showed immense character and growth throughout the tournament. The Mares kicked off their campaign with a thrilling encounter against the African champions South Africa, narrowly going down 3-2 in a tightly contested match. The team bounced back with a determined performance against Zambia, securing a 1-1 draw and demonstrating resilience and tactical discipline.

Final Tournament Results:

South Africa 3–2 Botswana

Botswana 1–1 Zambia

South Africa 2–0 Zambia

South Africa’s Banyana Banyana were ultimately crowned champions of the series, winning both of their matches to take the top spot. The tournament offered valuable game time and experience for all participating nations, and Botswana’s technical team, led by Head Coach Alex Malete, will take key insights from these fixtures as they refine the squad for the crucial WAFCON fianals.