Renowned South African football coach Morena Ramoreboli achieved his first victory in charge of the Botswana national team with a 2-0 triumph over Somalia in their 2026 World Cup qualifier at Francistown Stadium on Tuesday night.
The match remained goalless after an hour of play and seemed destined for a stalemate, until ASO Chlef midfielder Gape Mohutsiwa broke the deadlock in the 74th minute, giving Botswana the lead.
Nine minutes later, Gaborone United defender Mothusi Johnson sealed the win by doubling the advantage, keeping the Zebras’ World Cup hopes alive and well.
With the three points, Botswana climbed to third place in Group G, now on nine points after six matches. The Southern African nation trails group heavyweights and leaders Algeria by six points, with the North Africans having accumulated 15 points.
Furthermore, Botswana is also only three points behind second-placed Mozambique, making the race for qualification still very much within reach.
For Ramoreboli, the win represents not only a significant achievement but also an opportunity to further cement his legacy with the Botswana national team.
Appointed on an interim basis in October 2024, Ramoreboli stepped into the role after the unexpected departure of French coach Didier Gomes Da Rosa, who left to join Libyan club Al Ahli Tripoli.
Ramoreboli’s appointment came with high expectations, and he quickly rose to the challenge by leading Botswana to qualification for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.
The critical 1-1 draw against Egypt in Cairo secured the necessary points to ensure the Zebras’ place in the continental tournament, earning Ramoreboli a permanent appointment in January 2025.
However, Ramoreboli’s tenure got off to a difficult start as he suffered a 3-1 defeat to Algeria in his first official match as head coach on home soil.
The much needed win over Somalia showed that the team is steadily improving under his leadership, offering hope that the coach can lead Botswana to greater successes in the World Cup qualification campaign.
Prior to his stint as national team coach, Ramoreboli was highly successful at the club level, particularly with Jwaneng Galaxy. He won back-to-back Botswana Premier League titles and the prestigious Orange FA Cup with the club. Under his guidance, Galaxy also achieved historic success on the continental stage, reaching the CAF Champions League group stages.
Incredibly, they secured a memorable victory over Moroccan giants Wydad Casablanca and eliminated South Africa’s Orlando Pirates in the second preliminary round of the competition last season.
With his first World Cup qualifying win now under his belt, Ramoreboli will be eager to build on this momentum and continue Botswana’s push for a spot in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with crucial fixtures on the horizon.