Comoros Vs Botswana

Botswana’s 2025 COSAFA Cup campaign officially begins on Monday as they take on Comoros in Group D action at Seisa Ramabodu Stadium. Riding the high of a strong performance in their opening match—a win over Zambia on Friday—Les Coelacantes are well-positioned to secure top spot in their three-team group with another victory. Clinching first place would guarantee them a smooth passage to the knockout stages.

Comoros enter this fixture buoyed by momentum from their opening-day triumph. In a thrilling encounter at Free State Stadium on Friday, they secured a narrow 1-0 victory against Zambia. Athletico Marseille forward Ibrahim Madi delivered the decisive moment just after the half-hour mark. His well-timed strike proved enough as Comoros dug in defensively, holding off Zambia’s determined Chipolopolo attack to earn a valuable three-point haul.

This victory for Comoros builds on a positive slip-up recovery—they put an end to a run of three consecutive losses suffered during March’s international break, when they edged Chad 1-0 in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers. Under the guidance of manager Stefano Cusin, Comoros had amassed four victories and suffered just two defeats in six qualifying matches. That form earned them 12 points in Group I, positioning them in second place—three points shy of Ghana at the top and two points clear of Madagascar, who trail them in the playoff positions.

Comoros, having narrowly missed out in last year’s tournament, will be determined to improve on their previous performance. In the 2024 edition, they reached the third-place playoff, ultimately falling short in a penalty shootout against Mozambique. Now, sitting at the top of Group D, they are poised to claim a knockout-stage berth with every positive result.

On the other side, Botswana return to national team duty under coach Morena Ramoreboli after a ten-week hiatus. The Zebras, historically competitive in COSAFA competition, have long sought a title. Their best prior finishes were as runners-up in both 2016 and 2019, but recent tournaments have seen them struggle—exiting at the group stage in both 2023 and 2024. In the 2023 edition, they were narrowly edged out from Group A, while last year saw them finish at the bottom of their group with just two points from nine, ending their campaign in disappointing fashion.

Despite their recent COSAFA setbacks, Botswana enter this tournament in solid form. Over their past six matches across all competitions, they secured three wins, two draws, and suffered just one defeat—a 3-1 loss to Algeria in March during the World Cup qualifying campaign. In qualifying for the 2026 tournament, Botswana have shown flashes of promise, winning three and losing three games in Group G. With nine points to their name, they currently sit third in the standings, trailing Mozambique—which holds the playoff spot—by three points.

In the FIFA World Rankings, Botswana stand 136th. Comoros, meanwhile, will be aware of their head-to-head advantage: the Zebras have failed to beat Comoros in recent history, dropping three of their last four encounters, including two consecutive defeats since March 2016.

As these two teams prepare to face off, the stakes are clear. Comoros, riding the wave of an impressive win and solid World Cup qualification form, could cement their knockout stage ticket with another victory—keeping momentum and morale high. Botswana, equally motivated by their strong run of form and their ambition to finally lift the COSAFA Cup, will be looking to burst out of the blocks and lay claim to dominance in Group D.

Monday’s showdown promises a tightly contested battle between two sides with contrasting recent fortunes—Comoros aiming to capitalize on their upward trajectory and Botswana eager to shake off past group-stage exits and rekindle their playoff-winning pedigree. At Seisa Ramabodu Stadium, both teams will bring intensity, strategy, and ambition to the pitch, each hungry to book their place in the knockout rounds and take a significant step toward the prestigious regional title.