Botswana’s Football Blueprint: A Decade-Long Vision for Talent and Triumph
Botswana’s national football team, the Zebras, recently faced a tough outing at the AFCON Morocco 2025. This marked their first appearance in over a decade, following their debut in 2012. Both tournaments highlighted a significant gap between Botswana’s players and their continental counterparts. Ranked among the lowest, the Zebras concluded their recent campaign without a win or a draw, conceding seven goals and scoring none.
The experience, though challenging, has spurred action. Unlike 2012, this time, valuable lessons are being converted into a strategic response. The Botswana Football Association (BFA) Technical Development Committee (TDC) has unveiled an ambitious plan: the BFA Strategic Framework 2036.
Charting a Course for the Future
This ten-year strategic framework received approval from the BFA National Executive Committee (NEC) at its recent meeting in Francistown. The presentation was led by experienced coaches and administrators, Dr. Daniel Tau and Sikalame ‘Six’ Keatlholetswe, alongside BFA Technical Director Kaelo ‘Wire’ Kaelo and BFA vice president technical Tebogo ‘Tico’ Kamati.
Kamati describes the framework as a “10-Year Long-Term Athlete Development Plan, guided by a clearly defined Botswana Football DNA.” The strategy will be implemented in four-year cycles, supported by annual operational plans. Implementation is set to begin immediately, starting with a revision of the BFA strategy by the TDC this month.
Aligning with National Aspirations
Dr. Tau and Keatlholetswe emphasized that the strategy will “guide all BFA operations for the next ten years,” aiming to cultivate a distinct “Botswana Football DNA.” They highlighted the importance of aligning this football vision with Botswana’s national Vision 2036.
This national vision aims for Botswana to achieve “a high-income economy supported by stronger institutions, human capital development, youth opportunity, national pride and international competitiveness.” The football strategy seeks to contribute to this national goal.
Tau stated, “We want to align to the national vision so that when Botswana evaluates itself in 2036… football should say we contributed in this manner.” He added that the aim is to develop players who not only excel on the field but can also pursue professional careers in lucrative global leagues.
Setting Ambitious Targets
The strategic framework incorporates Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and high-level targets to measure progress. By 2036, both the Zebras and the women’s national team, the Mares, are expected to be COSAFA champions.
In continental and global rankings, the Zebras aspire to reach the top ten in CAF and the top sixty worldwide. The Mares aim for a top-seven ranking in Africa and top seventy globally. As interim milestones, both teams are expected to reach the COSAFA semi-finals by 2028 and the finals by 2032.
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