Botswana’s national U17 boys’ football team departs for South Africa to compete in the TotalEnergies CAF Under-17 Africa Cup of Nations | COSAFA Qualifier.
The team is drawn into Group C alongside hosts South Africa, Comoros, and Mauritius. They will begin their campaign with a high-stakes match against South Africa on 5th December 2024.
The tournament serves as both a regional showcase and a pathway to continental glory, with teams vying for a spot in the CAF U17 AFCON. Botswana have generally been among the leading teams in the tournament since its inception, reaching the semifinals at least in all three editions they have entered.
They were runners-up in 2021 in a three-team competition that had been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, beating Namibia 2-1 but losing 3-1 to champions Zambia.
They did not participate in 2020 during to COVID-19 but reached the semifinals on debut in 2019 where they lost 12-0 to eventual winners Uganda and finished fourth. They also reached the semis last time out in 2022 but lost 3-0 to South Africa and had to settle for fourth again.
