The Botswana Football Association (BFA) has fired Zebras coach, Mogomotsi 'Teenage' Mpote arguing that the team was not moving in the expected direction.
In a press statement, the BFA said Mpote's successor will be announced in due course as the Zebras prepare for 'demanding' World Cup qualifiers starting next month.
"Following an internal assessment and evaluation of where the Botswana senior men's national football team is, the Zebras are currently not where we want them to be. The Botswana Football Association would like to announce that we have parted ways with Mogomotsi Mpote, the Zebras national team head coach," reads part of the statement. The BFA said the Zebras will be entering a 'difficult and demanding' period as they attempt to qualify for the 2025 AFCON and 2026 World Cup finals.
"Parting ways with Mpote has not been an easy decision and as BFA we have no intention to make light of it all. The decision was taken with the interest of the Zebras at heart. All of us at BFA would like to wish Mr Mpote well in his future coaching career," the BFA stated.
Mpote lasted just one year in the job after his appointment last year in November. He found the going tough, winning one game in the Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, and going out in the group stages of the COSAFA Cup. Before Mpote's appointment, the BFA was reportedly interested in re-hiring Serbian, Jelusic Veselin or Burundian coach, Etienne Ndayiragije while Englishman, Peter Butler, who is already in the country, remains an option.
