Gomes Da Rosa: Botswana Could Be AFCON's 'Surprise Package,' Confident in Zebras' World Cup Hopes

French coach Didier Gomes Da Rosa has rallied support for Botswana ahead of their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations campaign, asserting that they are a team to watch.

Before departing under unusual circumstances, the 55-year-old coach had laid the groundwork for the Zebras to secure their second-ever qualification for Africa's premier football tournament.

The Southern African nation secured qualification as runners-up in Group C, which included former African champions Egypt, along with Mauritania and Cape Verde.

As Botswana gears up for a successful campaign in Morocco, the former Mauritania coach has expressed confidence in his former team's potential to deliver a remarkable performance in the North African nation.

BOTSWANA POISED FOR STANDOUT PERFORMANCE 

Highlighting the Zebras’ potential, Gomes Da Rosa emphasizes the need to preserve their tactical approach, citing the team’s unique strengths. "It depends on the atmosphere and the new coach," he told SportsBoom.com.

"Personally, I recommend maintaining the current tactical approach because our team has unique characteristics, unlike other national teams where most players compete in Europe.

"For instance, when you look at teams like Senegal, Morocco, or Algeria, most of their players are in Europe, playing for big clubs.

"We can’t replicate their style and must adopt a different tactical approach. That said, Botswana have good assets. We've defeated Cape Verde twice and also beat Guinea, a formidable team in African football.

"The Zebras are capable of delivering an exceptional performance and can be surprise package, but their success hinges on defending well as a unit. Their main strength lies in consistent, collective defense, and they are highly efficient on counter attacks.

"For instance, in our last match against Egypt, despite their [the Pharaohs] dominant possession, they couldn’t score against us."

DISAPPOINTED NOT TO LEAD THE TEAM TO MOROCCO

After his resignation, South Africa's Morena Ramoreboli, who was appointed as interim coach, continued from where he had left off.

Reflecting on his efforts in building the Botswana national team, coach Gomes Da Rosa expresses sadness that he will not be the one to lead them to the competition in Morocco.

"I was fully confident about qualification after our two victories over Cape Verde. They were significant wins, as Cape Verde is ranked around 65th in the FIFA rankings," he continued.

"Over the past year, we built the team together, selecting and identifying many players, and created a very consistent squad.

"It is truly sad not to lead the team in the next AFCON. However, with this kind of president [Botswana Football Association], I'm not sure he would provide me with all the resources needed to be truly successful."

WORLD CUP: ‘A BIG TARGET’

Botswana are only three points behind leaders Algeria in Group G, and Gomes Da Rosa remains optimistic about their chances of securing one of Africa's spots for the global football showpiece.

"It's a big target," said Gomes Da Rosa. "I spoke with the Zebra leaders a few days ago and urged them to focus on the World Cup qualifiers. "We are in second place, just three points behind Algeria and Mozambique. We've made a good start.

"The next two matches are crucial: Algeria at home and Somalia at home. The match against Algeria will be decisive if we want to keep our World Cup hopes alive. "It's essential to perform well in that match. It’s also key for preparing for the next AFCON."