Ramoreboli looks to tick-off COSAFA target
Kabelo Boranabi | Thursday June 12, 2025 09:06
Amongst key targets, the BFA tasked the South African with winning this year's edition of the COSAFA Cup. He also has to go beyond the group stages of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations finals to be held in Morocco in December, accumulate at least 12 points in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, book a spot at the African Nations Championship (CHAN), and move the Zebras into the top 30 in Africa. With half a year into his Zebras reign, Ramoreboli is progressing well with his targets but his immediate objective begins on Monday evening against Comoros. The team is in Group D, up against the Comoros and northern neighbour, Zambia. The Zebras have come closest twice to winning the COSAFA Cup as they lost in the finals of the 2016 and 2019 editions.
The team has reached the knockout round on five occasions as they were eliminated in the semifinals in 2006 and 2007 whilst the team finished third in 2015. It has been a series of poor results since the 2019 final as the Zebras never made it out of the group stages in the last four editions. Starting with Comoros, Ramoreboli will have to break the shackles with a relatively untested Zebras cohort. A large number of the squad could make their Zebras debut as Ramoreboli left out key figures from the COSAFA trip. The missing regulars include the North African-based contingent of Tumisang Orebonye, Thatayaone Ditlhokwe, Kabelo Seakanyeng, and Gape Mohutsiwa. Additionally, regular campaigners such as Mosha Gaolaolwe, Goitseone Phoko, Alphord Velaphi, and Thero Setsile have also missed the trip to Bloemfontein.
Ramoreboli has cast his net wide, picking arguably the best but unproven performers in the just-ended football season. Gaborone United's (GU) goalkeeper, Thabo Motswagole has returned to the national team fold whilst FNB Premiership's Goalkeeper of the Season, Thabo Mooketsi of TAFIC is in line for his debut. The trio, Shanganani Ngada, Kemoneetswe Mmangwedi, and Shaun Phillip, is also amongst the new faces in the team following an impressive season in defence for TAFIC whilst Bapaletswe Simon of Township Rollers also gets the nod. Amogelang Reetsang, Theo Shadikong, and Keitumetse Samunzala are amongst the new options in the Zebras' midfield as UK-based, Renei Batlokwa could finally make his debut. It is a mountain high task to reach the knockout round, as the Zebras lost the title to their group rivals, Zambia in 2019. The team lost 2-1 to Chipolopolo in the group stages in 2021 whilst another loss followed in the quarterfinals of the 2022 edition. It is, however, a much better record against Comoros as the Zebras won the only contest the pair played by a 1-0 score line in 2022.
The Zebras squad Goalkeepers: Motswagole (GU), Lesenya Malapela (Orapa), and Mooketsi (TAFIC) Defenders: Botsile Sakana (Orapa), Mothusi Johnson (GU), Simon (Rollers), Ngada, Mmangwedi, Phillip (all TAFIC), and Ngwako Ramokgathadi (Sua) Midfielders: Omphile Ramoagi, Karabo Phiri (both GU), Godiraone Modingwane (BDF), Phenyo Serameng (Sua), Mothusi Cooper (Rollers), Reetsang, Shadikong (both TAFIC), and Samunzala (Chiefs) Forwards: Batlokwa (Waldon and Triptree FC, UK), Serati Semadi (Sua), Thatayaone Kgamanyane, Thabo Maponda (both GU), and Ronaldo Fortune (Chiefs)