Botswana vs Tunisia – Preview, Team News & H2H

Botswana vs Tunisia meet in Matchday 2 of the AFCON 2027 Qualifiers on 28 September 2026, with both teams looking for their first Group H win after drawing their opening matches. For confirmed lineups, the live score, match events and changing statistics, follow SP Score. For wider AFCON, football and match coverage, explore the SportPesa Global Blog.

Botswana began with a 2-2 draw away to Libya after leading by two goals, while Tunisia drew 1-1 at home to Uganda. That makes Tunisia vs Botswana an early test in a Group H qualification race, where Uganda’s status as an AFCON 2027 co-host changes how the remaining qualification place is decided.

The match brings together two teams looking for their first Group H win, with team selection, recent form, previous meetings and the qualification situation all adding context before kick-off.

Botswana and Tunisia are in Group H with Uganda and Libya. Uganda are already qualified for AFCON 2027 as co-hosts, so only the highest-ranked team among Tunisia, Libya and Botswana will take the additional qualification place from the group.

The group is played across six home-and-away matchdays. After both Matchday 1 fixtures ended level, the three teams competing for the qualification place remain closely matched on points.

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Botswana arrive after coming close to an opening away win against Libya. Tumisang Orebonye scored twice to put the Zebras 2-0 ahead before Libya recovered and converted a stoppage-time penalty to make it 2-2.

Tunisia coach Mouine Chaâbani has refreshed his squad for the opening qualifiers. Ferjani Sassi, Aïssa Laïdouni and Ali Maâloul were recalled, while Samy Chouchane, Sadok Kedida and Mohamed Nasraoui received first senior call-ups.

Hannibal Mejbri is unavailable through injury. CAF also reported that Ali Abdi, Elias Saad, Saîf-Eddine Khaoui, Firas Chaouat and Issam Jebali were not selected for the opening window, while Elyes Skhiri has retired from international football.

Tunisia national football team vs Botswana national football team lineups. The starting XIs will be available once both teams officially confirm their lineups.

Botswana and Tunisia have met regularly in competitive international football. Across nine recorded senior meetings before this qualifier, Tunisia have won five, Botswana two and two have ended in draws.

The most recent meeting was a friendly in December 2025, which Tunisia won 2-1. Their previous AFCON qualifying meetings came in 2022 and 2023: Botswana held Tunisia to a 0-0 draw at home before Tunisia won the return fixture 3-0.

Botswana also have important positive history in this matchup. They beat Tunisia home and away during the 2012 AFCON qualifying campaign, winning 1-0 in both meetings.

Tunisia national football team vs Botswana national football team stats. The opening round of this qualification campaign gives the latest picture of both teams before this match.

Botswana led Libya 2-0 through Orebonye’s two goals but conceded twice to leave Tripoli with a 2-2 draw.

Tunisia also started with a point. Adem Arous put the Eagles of Carthage ahead against Uganda after 12 minutes before Rogers Mato equalised in the second half for a 1-1 draw.

Tumisang Orebonye enters the fixture after scoring both of Botswana’s goals against Libya. His Matchday 1 performance makes him one of Botswana’s main attacking threats for Tunisia to manage.

Tunisia have added experience back into the squad through Sassi, Laïdouni and Maâloul, while Mohamed Ali Ben Romdhane, Hamza Rafia, Sayfallah Ltaief and Amine Cherni are among the returning options available to Chaâbani.

How Tunisia balance those experienced players with the new call-ups will be an important part of the Matchday 2 selection.

Group H has a different qualification dynamic from most AFCON 2027 groups because Uganda are already assured of a finals place as co-hosts.

That leaves Tunisia, Botswana and Libya competing for one additional qualification place. All four teams started with one point after the opening round, so matches between the three non-host nations could be important in deciding who qualifies.

Ahead of Botswana vs Tunisia today and Tunisia vs Botswana today, both teams are level on one point after their opening matches. Neither side can create an early points advantage over the other without winning this direct meeting.

A Botswana vs Tunisia prediction should account for more than the historical record. Tunisia have the better overall H2H record, but Botswana have beaten them before and scored twice away to Libya on Matchday 1.

For a Tunisia vs Botswana prediction. Tunisia drew their opener against Uganda and have made several squad changes under Chaâbani, while Botswana will want to avoid another match in which a two-goal lead slips away.

Before making any assessment, it is worth looking at the confirmed lineups, how both teams control midfield, their defensive organisation and whether they take their chances.

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Botswana’s ability to turn attacking moments into sustained control is one of the main questions. They proved against Libya that they can create and finish chances, but protecting a lead became the bigger problem.

Tunisia will want greater control after Uganda recovered from a goal down in their opening match. Midfield control, defending on transitions and set pieces could all have a major say in the match.

Botswana vs Tunisia is scheduled for 28 September 2026 in Matchday 2 of the AFCON 2027 Qualifiers.

CAF lists kick-off at 19:00 GMT.

Botswana and Tunisia are in Group H with Uganda and Libya.

Uganda are already qualified as AFCON 2027 co-hosts. The highest-ranked team among Tunisia, Botswana and Libya takes the group’s additional qualification place.

Botswana drew 2-2 away to Libya after leading 2-0, while Tunisia drew 1-1 at home to Uganda.

Before this qualifier, the teams had nine recorded senior meetings: Tunisia won five, Botswana won two and two ended in draws.

For Tunisia vs Botswana live scores, confirmed lineups, goals, cards, substitutions and changing match statistics, follow SP Score.

Botswana vs Tunisia gives both teams an early opportunity to move ahead in a tightly balanced Group H after opening draws.

Botswana showed they can create chances against Libya but need greater control when protecting an advantage. Tunisia come into Matchday 2 after making several squad changes for the opening qualifiers and drawing 1-1 with Uganda.

With Uganda already qualified as a co-host, the direct results between Botswana, Tunisia and Libya will be especially important in deciding who takes the remaining Group H qualification place.

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