Gaborone United seal title, secures CAF Champions League slot

Gaborone United coach Sean Connor has reacted to the Botswana league holder’s performances after cruising 12 points clear to close in on the domestic title and CAF Champions League slot.

The FNB Premiership defending champions demolished Orapa United 6-2 at Gaborone Stadium on Saturday to take their tally to 65 points from 26 games with four matches to go.

Gaborone United coach Sean Connor after winning 6-2 against Orapa United to open a 15 points gap at the top #FNBPREM #KillerPass pic.twitter.com/qqBKEVpNUa

— killerpass Botswana (@KillerpassBOTS) April 10, 2026

In a post-match interview with Killer Pass website of Botswana, Connor saluted his charges for coming out of the match largely unscathed against solid the opposition.

“We played really well,” said the coach. “What they [Orapa United] gave us is what we expected. We expected them to work hard. We expected them to play quickly and to press high in the first half.

“They have been in a good run of form, going 10 games unbeaten. What I liked is that we started well. Maybe we got a little bit complacent at the back, but we didn’t panic, we kept going and, in the end, we got our just reward,” he added.

In a separate interview with the same media outlet, Orapa United coach Elias Chinyemba attributed the heavy defeat to a lack of defensive organisation.

“There was a lack of organisation. You can’t concede four goals from corner kicks and high balls. We lacked organisation due to a lack of communication, but we will learn from this. We will take the lessons and move to the next game,” he said.

What happened during Gaborone v Orapa United game?

Gaborone United’s 65 points are the maximum points’ tally for second-placed Mochudi Centre Chiefs—if they win their remaining four games, hence the domestic league championship race is over.

The men for Connor are now certain of representing Botswana in the Champions League for the second consecutive season.

The Botswana giants also participated in the ongoing continental league but were eliminated from the first qualifying round by Simba SC of Tanzania.

During Saturday’s FNB Premiership encounter, Namibian midfielder Obrey Amseb, his Motswana team-mates Thatayaone Kgamanyane and man-of-the match Mothusi Johnson scored a brace each. In the opposite camp, the result ended Orapa United’s 10-game unbeaten league run.

Results of other FNB Premiership matches

In other league games played on Saturday, second-placed Mochudi Centre Chiefs edged Black Lions FC 1-0 while Botswana Defence Force XI suffered a 1-3 loss to Sua Flamingoes.

There were also other home defeats for Calendar Stars and Santa Green FC after going down by 0-1 margins to Morupule Wanderers FC and Township Rollers FC. Extension Gunners prevailed 3-1 over TAFIC FC while NICO FC and Matebele FC drew 0-0.