01 Oct 2026

The men’s Under-23 national football team, the Young Zebras, face a critical test of character when they clash with Seychelles in a crucial Olympic Games qualifier at the National Stadium today.

The team heads into the match searching for redemption following a 2-0 defeat against Mozambique during Independence Day celebrations, a friendly that exposed the areas needing special attention if Botswana wants to keep its Los Angeles 2028 Olympic dreams alive.

In an interview, Young Zebras head coach, Michael Mogaladi, said the primary concern lied in player recovery after the high-tempo friendly left his squad physically drained just days before the crucial first-leg qualifier.

“I am currently scared as to whether I still have fit players ahead of the Olympic clash, but overall, the players tried their best. Yes, there were some minor errors here and there,” he said.

While he acknowledged that those mistakes must be corrected, Mogaladi noted that time was not on their side, though his players were showing positive signs of becoming a formidable side.

“Although some of my players do not get game time while others come in as substitutes in their respective clubs, I will say they show a lot of hunger and resilience,” he added.

He also pointed to hurdles in their preparations, explaining that while they managed drills for corner kicks, they could not fully prepare for free kicks due to safety concerns.

“In our last training when we were trying to fine-tune the free kicks, we were disturbed by thunderstorms, and we stopped everything,” he said.

However, some football pundits believe Mogaladi may have purposefully held back his strategies during the Independence Celebration friendly because the Seychelles national team arrived early in Gaborone on September 30 to watch the match.

Meanwhile, the winner of the two-legged clash would advance to face Mali in the next round of qualifiers. 

No Botswana football team has ever qualified for the Olympics, with the last notable deep run coming during the 2008 qualifiers under the ‘Dream Team’ era coached by the late Major David Bright, when the squad reached the final group stage. ENDS