Morena Ramoreboli announces the Botswana national team roster! | OneFootball

Morena Ramoreboli announces the Botswana national team roster!

The final squad list is in, and with it comes the inevitable sting of exclusion. As Botswana's head coach Morena Ramoreboli unveiled his 32 warriors for the 2025 AFCON in North Africa, one notable name was conspicuously absent from the final roster: Richards Bay FC defender Benson Mangolo.

This decision marks a significant turning point for the 26-year-old, who has long been a key pillar for the Zebras. His recent struggle for minutes at his club, however, has proven decisive, limiting him to a place on the standby list despite his inclusion in the initial provisional squad.

Coach Ramoreboli, no stranger to Mangolo from their shared history at Jwaneng Galaxy, is acutely aware that his choices will be met with both applause and critique. He steps into this high-pressure arena with his eyes wide open.

"The demands are very high. The expectations are very high," Ramoreboli confessed to FARPost, acknowledging the intense spotlight that follows a national team coach. "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."

The squad he has chosen leans heavily on locally based talent, complemented by a core of four players plying their trade in North Africa, including captain Ditlhokwe and attacker Tumisang Orebonye. Their mission is historic: to propel Botswana beyond the group stages for the first time ever. In their sole previous appearance in 2012, the Zebras' journey ended prematurely in the initial phase.

Now, drawn in a formidable Group D against African champions Senegal, DR Congo, and Benin, Ramoreboli sees this as more than a tournament; it's a personal crucible for growth. "It’s an opportunity for me as well to grow as a coach," he reflected, highlighting the unique challenge of not working with players daily. This reality demands meticulous preparation through video analysis, a task he has fully embraced.

As the Zebras prepare for their second-ever dance on the continental stage, Ramoreboli's squad selection—both its inclusions and its one poignant exclusion—sets the stage for a campaign fueled by ambition and a firm belief in his calculated decisions.