Ramoreboli Claims Crucial First Win As Botswana Coach
South African coach Morena Ramoreboli registered his maiden win in charge of the Botswana national team with a 2-0 victory over Somalia in their 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier encounter at Francistown Stadium on Tuesday night.
The match was headed for a share of the spoils before Gape Mohutsiwa broke the deadlock in the 74th minute. Mothusi Johnson doubled the lead nine minutes later to keep the Zebras World Cup hopes intact.
Botswana moved up to third place in Group G standings with nine points accumulated after six matches played. The Southern African nation trails leaders Algeria with seven points and is three points shy of second-placed Mozambique.
For Ramoreboli, who was initially appointed on an interim basis in October 2024 following the untimely departure of French tactician Didier Gomes Da Rosa to Libyan outfit Al Ahli Tripoli, the win is an opportunity to create more history in Botswana.
The 44-year-old mentor was tasked with qualifying Botswana to the 2025 Africa Cup Of Nations in Morrocco with a promise that he would retain the position permanently should he achieve the feat – which he did with a 1-1 draw against Egypt in the last match in Cairo.
After his permanent appointment in January 2025, the ex-Jwaneng Galaxy coach lost his first match in the dugout in a 3-1 defeat to Algeria on home soil on Friday before getting off the mark with the struggling Somalians’ scalp.
Ramoreboli won back-to-back Botswana Premier League titles and an Orange FA Cup with Galaxy.
Moreover, he guided the Botswana giants to the CAF Champions League group stages, including a win over Moroccan powerhouse Wydad Casablanca and dumping Orlando Pirates out of the same competition in the second preliminary round last season.
