Botswana national team head coach Morena Ramoreboli has released his final squad for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations[AFCON] finals in North Africa, but has surprisingly excluded a PSL star.
The former Bafana Bafana COSAFA Cup coach has opted to name 32 players for the biennial continental competition. Botswana are in Group D alongside 2021 African champions Senegal, DR Congo and Benin.
They are making their second appearance at the tournament, where they debuted in 2012. After the Zebras failed to get past the group phase in their maiden participation, Ramoreboli will be attempting to make history by guiding them to the knockout stage for the first time ever.
Locally based players dominate Ramoreboli’s squad. The squad, announced on Tuesday, also features the North Africa-based quartet of captain Ditlhokwe, Tumisang Orebonye, Gape Mohutsiwa and Kabelo Seakanyeng.
Former TS Galaxy midfielder Thero Setsile misses out, with the coach listing him only as a reserve.
WHO IS THE PSL STAR SNUBBED BY RAMOREBOLI?
After being included in the 55-man provisional squad, Richards Bay FC defender Benson Mangolo has been excluded from the final list. He is listed as one of the four standby players.
The 26-year-old has been struggling for game time at the Natal Rich Boyz with just two appearances in all competitions this season, but has, in recent years, been a Zebras key member.
Ramoreboli knows Mangolo well, as the two previously worked together at Jwaneng Galaxy. The Botswana coach understands the scrutiny that will accompany his decisions.
“The demands are very high. The expectations are very high. Obviously, I always say you need to understand that you are in the spotlight when you are coaching the national team,” Ramoreboli told FARPost.
“For every decision that you make, there are those who will be happy and others who will not be happy about it. But you need to have a very strong character. You also need to believe in every decision that you are taking.
“It’s an opportunity for me as well to grow as a coach and be able to understand football on another level. Not being active everyday requires you to make sure that you prepare and you get a lot of videos. That’s exactly what I am doing. I think it helps me a lot.”
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