14 hours agoP5 million payday for Zebras

Though the Zebras returned from the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) without a single win or goal to their name, their valiant grind on Africa’s grandest football stage didn’t go unrewarded. Each squad member is set to pocket a neat P150,000, a solid consolation for the tough campaign. The Botswana Football Association (BFA) revealed this week that the nation banked roughly $500,000 (around P6.6 million) from the team’s Morocco showing.

Of that pot, over P5 million is earmarked for the 26 players and technical staff, a clear nod of appreciation for their historic qualification and proud representation on the continental front. Their run echoed Botswana’s maiden AFCON outing in 2012, bowing out at the group stage once again. Drawn into a so-called “group of death,” the Zebras faced heavyweights Senegal and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Entering the tournament as the lowest-ranked team and uniquely composed entirely of players based on the African continent, the challenge was steep. Despite the scoreboard not reflecting their effort, BFA president Tariq Babitseng expressed pride in the squad’s grit under daunting odds. “We were in the toughest group, one that produced the eventual African champions in Senegal, while the Democratic Republic of Congo are pushing strongly for World Cup qualification,” Babitseng said at the appreciation ceremony in Gaborone on Monday.

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“That alone shows the level of competition we were up against. Our players gave their all even though results did not go our way.” He stressed that the financial reward was less about on-field fireworks and more a salute to the historic feat of qualifying for AFCON for only the second time in Botswana’s footballing chronicles. “The qualification itself was a milestone and the nation rallied behind the team.

It is important that the players and technical staff are recognised for that,” he added. This cash windfall arrives amid growing chatter around player welfare. Before departing for Morocco last December, veteran goalkeeper Kabelo Dambe made a heartfelt plea on behalf of his teammates, urging sustained support beyond one-off bonuses.

Dambe called on the government, through the Ministry of Sports and Arts, to team up with the Botswana Housing Corporation (BHC) to offer national players a 50 percent discount on housing schemes. “A football career is demanding and short. We need dignity after we hang up our boots,” Dambe argued.

The housing proposal is still on the table, but the P150,000 payout promises some short-term relief for players who mostly earn modest wages in local and regional leagues. At the same ceremony, Senior National team coach Morena Ramoreboli struck a reflective chord. Though honest about the sting of the AFCON exit, he refused to let disappointment dull the team’s spirit.

“We are not proud of the results in Morocco, but we have gained invaluable experience,” Ramoreboli admitted. He highlighted Botswana’s deep talent pool, insisting that with proper nurturing and a dose of tough but fair criticism, the Zebras can bridge the gap with Africa’s elite. “To all technicians and coaches, our responsibility is to develop players.

Mistakes must be corrected so that players become better. That is how we will close the gap with the top nations,” he said. The technical staff has already begun dissecting the AFCON campaign to sharpen their edge ahead of the 2027 qualifiers.

“Our target is clear, we want to qualify again. The experience from Morocco has shown us what is required at that level,” Ramoreboli concluded confidently. While AFCON participation spotlighted Botswana’s progress, it also laid bare lingering structural hurdles.

Qualifying proved competitiveness, but the inability to find the net or snatch points underscored the gulf between the Zebras and the continent’s powerhouses. Still, the financial boost to the BFA and the players’ reward should lift morale as they gear up for future battles. As preparations for the next AFCON qualifying round kick off, the Zebras will be banking on lessons learned in Morocco, and bolstered investment in player development and welfare, to finally turn promise into points on the pitch.

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