Botswana Zebras show their stripes for AFCON

South Africa based striker Losika Ratshukudu has been named in Botswana’s preliminary squad for next month’s Africa Cup of Nations finals as the Zebras became the second country to give some indication of their selection for the tournament in Morocco. Catch all the AFCON 2025 action live on SuperSport.

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Botswana billed Tuesday’s announcements as their final squad but it must still be cut from 36 down to 23 by the deadline of 11 December. Bafana named a preliminary squad on Monday.

Teenage striker Ratshukudu helped Ubuntu to success in the Bayhill tournament earlier this year and has played previously for Botswana at junior level but this is a first call up to the senior squad.

Their South African coach Morena Ramorebodi called up four players based in North Africa with two from Morocco – Tumisang Orebonye at Wydad Casablanca and Kabelo Seakanyeng who plays for Maghreb Fes, and was previously at Chippa United.

The squad also includes former Kaizer Chiefs defender Thatayaone Ditlhokwe, who was sold this time last year to Libya’s Al Ittihad, and goalkeeper Kabelo Dambe, who was previously at Platinum Stars and Bloemfontein Celtic in two separate spells in South African football. Dambe is now at Township Rollers in Gaborone.

But left out of the squad is defender Benson Mangolo from Richards Bay, who moved to the Premier Soccer League at the start of the season but made a single start, as well as Mpho Kgaswane, who spent three seasons from 2016-19 at Baroka.

Botswana are playing in the final for only the second time after their debut appearance in 2012 and begin their Group D campaign against Senegal in Tangier on 23 December. They then face up to Benin on 27 December in Rabat and stay in the Moroccan capital to finish their group fixtures against the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Squad

Goalkeepers: Kabelo Dambe (Township Rollers), Keagile Kgosipula (Mochudi Centre Chiefs), Lesley Malapela (Orapa United), Goitseone Phoko (Jwaneng Galaxy)

Defenders: Thatayaone Ditlhokwe (Al Ittihad, Libya), Mosha Gaolaolwe (Township Rollers), Mothusi Johnson (Gaborone United), Tebogo Kopelang, Thabo Leinanyane, Chicco Molefe (all Jwaneng Galaxy), Shanganani Nganda (Mochudi Centre Chiefs), Alford Velaphi (Gaborone United)

Midfielders: Gilbert Baruti (Mochudi Centre Chiefs), Mothusi Cooper (Township Rollers), Lebogang Ditsele (Gaborone United), Monty Enosa (Mochudi Centre Chiefs), Koketso Majafi (Orapa United), Thabo Maponda (Gaborone United), Godiroaone Modingwane (Botswana Defence Force XI), Gape Mohutsiwa (Mouloudia Oran, Algeria), Omphile Ramoagi (Gaborone United), Olebogeng Ramotse (Jwaneng Galaxy), Phenyo Serameng (Sua Flamingoes), Omphile Visagie (Township Rollers)

Forwards: Thabang Balatlheng (Township Rollers), Segolame Boy (Sua Flamingoes), Omaatla Kebatho (Jwaneng Galaxy), Thatayaone Kgamanyane (Gaborone United), Eric Ookame (Orapa United), Tumisang Orebonye (Wydad Casablanca, Morocco), Losika Ratshukudu (Ubuntu Cape Town, South Africa) Kabelo Seakanyeng (Maghreb Fes, Morocco), Thabang Sesinyi (Jwaneng Galaxy),