Football It was a great year as the country’s most popular sport enjoyed rare success. The performance on the field was matched by the successes off-field as football was showered with sponsorship notably, the elite league. However, boardroom squabbles surged once again. Meanwhile, there is a breath of fresh air amongst the football circles following the September 13 national executive committee elections that ushered in new president, Tariq Babitseng. He ended Maclean Letshwiti’s two-term reign at the national congress held in Palapye.
Achievements After more than a decade, the Zebras managed to qualify for the AFCON finals and only for the second time in the team’s history. It was a tough journey after the opening two games of the qualifiers but things turned out well following the home and away wins over Cape Verde. The departure of French coach, Didier Gomes Da Rosa would not affect the team as interim, Morena Ramoreboli managed two draws at home against Mauritania and away to Egypt to secure a berth amongst the final 24 teams. It was a moment to savour for local football as for the first time, Botswana will have both senior national football teams in the continental tournaments. The Mares are in action at the 2025 WAFCON in winter whilst the Zebras return to Africa’s elite tournament in December. The Premier League sponsorship was a huge relief for the football fraternity after the elite league laboured through a number of seasons without a title sponsor. In February, a Valentine's week, commercial bank, First National Bank Botswana (FNBB) showered the Premier League with love by announcing a three-year sponsorship of P9.5 million per season. The FNB Premiership deal began in the current 2024–2025 season. FNB Botswana also announced a P4.5 million annual sponsorship for the Mares over three years. This brings the deal for the women's national team to P13.5 million. The funds are to assist the Mares amongst other things to prepare for the 2025 WAFCON that kicks off in Morocco in the coming winter. Along the Premiership deal, FNB Botswana has poured a total of P28.5 million for the league and the Mares’ football activities.
