Inside BFA’s Bold Vision for 2036

The Botswana Football Association (BFA) has unveiled a sweeping 10-year strategic plan aimed at reshaping the nation’s football landscape with ambitious benchmarks for the Zebras, the Mares, and grassroots player development by 2036. Central to this vision is a decisive shift: Botswana intends no longer to be a sporadic contender on the African football stage but to establish itself as a steadfast competitor among the continent’s elite. This initiative, dubbed the BFA Strategic Framework 2036, was formally presented to the BFA National Executive Committee in Francistown by esteemed football authorities Dr.

Daniel Tau and Sikalame “Six” Keatlholetswe, alongside Technical Director Kaelo Kaelo and Vice President for Technical Affairs Tebogo Kamati. It sets out a roadmap structured into four-year implementation cycles, supported by annual operational plans and rigorously defined key performance indicators, designed to guide Botswana football over the coming decade. Local football in Botswana has long been trapped in a cycle of hope followed by disappointment: rare qualifications for major tournaments, inconsistent player development, and league structures often criticized for their failure to produce top-tier talent.

The BFA’s new framework seeks to replace this unpredictability with disciplined, long-term planning. Rather than postponing evaluation until 2036, this phased approach allows for ongoing progress reviews every four years, enabling strategic recalibration and accountability along the way. The targets are striking in their ambition.

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Meanwhile, the women’s national team, the Mares, aims to reach seventh place on the continent and 70th globally. Both squads are also charged with capturing the COSAFA Cup by the end of the cycle. For years, Botswana has celebrated mere qualification for the Africa Cup of Nations as a triumph.

Under this new framework, simply qualifying will no longer suffice; the standard shifts to competitive relevance. Clear interim milestones accompany these goals. Regionally, both teams are expected to reach COSAFA semi-finals by 2028 and finals by 2032, setting their sights on titles in 2036.

Regular qualification for the Africa Cup of Nations is deemed a non-negotiable objective for the Zebras, addressing a historical lack of continuity that has marred national team progress. Yet, the earliest tangible impact of Vision 2036 may manifest not in rankings, but on domestic league rosters. Starting June 1, 2026, all clubs under BFA jurisdiction will be mandated to comply with new play rules designed to guarantee meaningful youth participation throughout the football pyramid.

In the FNB Premiership, clubs must field at least three Under-23 players and two Under-20 players in their starting line-ups. The First Division faces even higher youth participation quotas, with regional leagues enforcing the strongest developmental requirements. This policy confronts a perennial criticism: young talents have often spent critical developmental years sidelined while clubs leaned heavily on older, short-term players.

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