Africa Cup of Nations Qualifying | Group Stage

Oct 15, 2024 at 5pm UK

Francistown Stadium

Botswana vs Cape Verde

Match preview

Botswana kicked off their quest for a place in Morocco on Thursday with a 2-0 win over Cape Verde when the two nations met at the Estadio Nacional de Cabo Verde.

Despite having over 75% of the possession and more than 25 shots on target, Cape Verde were left empty-handed as Tumisang Orebonye's second-minute strike was enough to give the visitors all three points.

It was a much-needed result for Didier Gomes Da Rosa's men, who had failed to win any of their previous four matches, including consecutive defeats to Mauritania and Egypt in their first two AFCON 2025 qualifiers.

Botswana, currently 147th in the latest FIFA World Ranking, will now be looking to record back-to-back wins for the first time since July 2023 and move up to second place in Group C.

The Zebras will be aiming to make their second appearance at the AFCON, having made their first appearance in 2012 when they were knocked out at the group stage after losing all three of their Group D matches.

For Cape Verde, Thursday's defeat brought their quest for a third consecutive AFCON back down to earth, with just three points from their opening three games.

Bubista's men reached the last 16 of the 2021 AFCON, where they lost 2-0 to eventual winners Senegal, two years before they were knocked out in the quarter-finals in Côte d'Ivoire.

The Blue Sharks began their quest for a place in Morocco with a humiliating 3-0 defeat to Egypt in Cairo on 6 September, but bounced back four days later with a 2-0 win over Mauritania at the Estadio Nacional de Cabo Verde.

Cape Verde go into Tuesday's clash on the back of four defeats in their last six matches in all competitions, including a 4-1 loss to Cameroon in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, but they have taken seven points from four games and sit third in Group D, one point off the summit.

Recent Performance

Botswana Africa Cup of Nations Qualifying form:LLW

Botswana form (all competitions):DDLLLW

Cape Verde Africa Cup of Nations Qualifying form:LWL

Cape Verde form (all competitions):WLWLWL

Injuries and suspensions

Botswana

No sidelined players

Cape Verde

No sidelined players

Possible starting lineups

Botswana possible starting lineup:

Phoko; Johnson, Ditlhokwe, Gaolaolwe, Velaphi; Boy, Ramotse, Mohutsiwa, Seakanyeng; Orebonye, Baruti

Cape Verde possible starting lineup:

B Varela; Pina, Costa, Lopes; Monteiro, Duarte, Lenini; Mendes, Tavares, H Varela