New Coaches Step in as AFCON Qualifiers Near Final Stages

Posted : 14 November 2024

South Africa-born Morena Ramoreboli has taken over as the coach of Botswana with the goal of securing their qualification for the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) next year. As one of five new coaches leading their respective teams, Ramoreboli's task is clear: guide Botswana to their second-ever AFCON finals appearance. The team is just one win away from making history, needing a victory over Mauritania in Francistown on Friday to guarantee their spot in Morocco.

Botswana currently sits in second place in Group C, behind Egypt, who have already qualified. Despite the team's positive results in recent qualifiers, including impressive wins over Cape Verde, the departure of French coach Didier Gomes da Rosa created a significant shift.

Gomes da Rosa resigned after differences with the Botswana Football Association's leadership, and he quickly moved on to coach in Libya. Now, Ramoreboli must lead the team through the final two qualifiers, with the Mauritania match followed by a challenging away game against Egypt.

Ramoreboli's coaching resume includes a successful stint as South Africa's caretaker coach during the Cosafa Cup, and a league title with Botswana's Jwaneng Galaxy. He also made waves last season by leading Galaxy to the group stage of the African Champions League, including a shock elimination of Orlando Pirates. His experience at both the club and international levels makes him a fitting choice to guide Botswana during these crucial qualifiers.

Alongside Ramoreboli, several other countries have brought in new coaches for the final rounds of the qualifiers. In Liberia, Thomas Kojo secured a 1-0 win in his debut match as head coach, leading the Lone Stars to victory over Togo.

In Burundi, Patrick Sangwa has taken over after the firing of Etienne Ndayiragije, with Sangwa's debut match against Malawi set to take place on Thursday. Malawi, on the other hand, has hired Callisto Pasuwa after a disappointing campaign under Patrick Mabedi, and he will lead the team against Senegal.

The Central African Republic and Tunisia are also undergoing managerial changes. The Central African Republic's interim coach, Eloge Enza, will guide the team through their final qualifiers, hoping to secure a historic AFCON appearance.

Tunisia, after a shock defeat to Comoros, saw coach Faouzi Benzarti dismissed, with Kais Yaacoubi stepping in as interim coach. Tunisia remains in control of their group and aims to qualify for the finals with a strong performance against Madagascar.

New Coaches Step in as AFCON Qualifiers Near Final Stages

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