Botswana begin their 2025 COSAFA Cup journey on Monday with a Group D clash against Comoros at the Seisa Ramabodu Stadium. After edging Zambia 1-0 in their opening match on Friday, Comoros find themselves in a strong position. Another victory would guarantee them top spot in the group and a place in the knockout stages of the competition.
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That win over Zambia marked a crucial moment for Les Coelacantes. Ibrahim Madi, who plays for Athletico Marseille, found the net just after the half-hour mark to hand his side the lead. Comoros then put on a determined defensive performance to secure the three points. It was their second straight win, following a 1-0 triumph over Chad in March during the 2026 World Cup qualifiers - a result that had ended a string of three consecutive defeats.
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Under the guidance of head coach Stefano Cusin, Comoros have performed admirably in World Cup qualifying, winning four of their six matches and placing second in Group I with 12 points. They trail group leaders Ghana by three points and lead Madagascar by two. In the COSAFA Cup, they're hoping to improve on last year's campaign, where they narrowly missed out on a bronze medal after a penalty shootout defeat to Mozambique in the third-place playoff.
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For Botswana, this match represents a fresh start after a ten-week break from international competition. Coach Morena Ramoreboli will be aiming for a strong showing, especially with his team having fallen short at the group stage in the last two editions of the tournament. The Zebras were runners-up in 2016 and 2019 but have struggled in recent years. They ended last year's group stage in last place, with just two points from three matches.
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Despite those recent struggles in the COSAFA Cup, Botswana enter Monday's game in solid form. They've won three, drawn two, and lost one of their last six matches across all competitions. That single defeat came against Algeria in March during their World Cup qualifying campaign, where they currently sit third in Group G with nine points - three behind second-placed Mozambique.
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Ranked 136th in the latest FIFA rankings, Botswana face a Comoros side that has had the upper hand in recent meetings. Comoros have won two of the last four encounters between the nations, including the last two matches dating back to 2016. Monday's showdown promises to be a key battle in determining who progresses from this three-team group.
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