Botswana vs Somalia

Botswana will look to rebound when they take on Somalia in their upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier in Group G. Currently sitting in fourth place, Botswana will face bottom-ranked Somalia, hoping to revive their campaign after a disappointing loss.

With just six points from five matches, Botswana’s hopes of climbing the standings suffered a setback after a 3-1 home defeat to Algeria last Friday. They now trail the second-place team—which could secure a playoff spot—by six points. Their recent form in World Cup qualifiers has been inconsistent, with only two wins in their last eight matches, one of which came against Somalia.

Meanwhile, Somalia arrives with renewed confidence after earning their first point in the qualifiers—a hard-fought 0-0 draw against Guinea in Abidjan. Despite having just 24% possession and failing to record a shot on target, the Horn of Africa side showed resilience. However, their attacking struggles remain a concern, having won just one of their last 16 World Cup qualifying matches.

When these two sides last met, Botswana secured a 3-1 victory. But with Somalia showing signs of improvement, the hosts cannot afford complacency as they push for a crucial three points.

Tebogo Kopelang scored for Botswana in the World Cup qualifying match at Obed Itani Chilume Stadium, although the country fell 3-1 to Algeria at home in their most recent match.

Somalia comes into this match having drawn 0-0 with Guinea in a World Cup qualifying match. Alassane Ouattara Stadium in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, served as the venue for the match.

Botswana defeated Somalia 3-1 in their most recent encounter, which was played at Maputo, Mozambique's Estádio do Zimpeto.

With six points separating them from second-place Mozambique, Botswana is now ranked fourth in the rankings. The Zebras have only achieved two victories, four draws, and four defeats in their previous 10 games. Their poor attacking performance is demonstrated by their 0.6 goal per game average. Their defense has also been lacking, giving up an average of 1.3 goals per game. The Zebras won 3-1 in their last head-to-head battle against Somalia, which could give them more confidence going into the upcoming game. They will be highly motivated to win all three points given their present standing in the standings.

The national team of Somalia is now at the bottom of Group G after their fifth game ended in a tie with Guinea. The "Stars" have only achieved one victory, three draws, and six losses in their previous 10 games, underscoring the team's inconsistent play. Somalia's defense gives up an average of 1.6 goals per game, while their offense averages 0.6 goals per game. But it's important to note that they have won 11 of their past 12 games, demonstrating their ability to keep a +2.5 goal spread. They lost 1-3 to Botswana in their last meeting, which may have fueled their desire for a resurgence.