The 2022 FA Challenge Cup was the 48th edition of the FA Challenge Cup, Botswana's premier football knockout tournament. It was sponsored by Orange and was known as the Orange FA Cup or Orange FA Cup Season 3 for sponsorship reasons. It started with the preliminary round on the weekend of 26 February and concluded with the final on 18 June 2022.
Gaborone United were the defending champions and went on to retain the cup after beating Security Systems in the final, extending their record and becoming the first club since Mogoditshane Fighters in 2000 to successfully defend the title.
Qualifying rounds All 16 Premier League teams automatically qualified to the round of 32. The top 8 teams from First Division South and top 8 from First Division North had to go through the preliminary round and were joined by the 16 regional champions. Winners of this round qualified for the round of 32.
Preliminary round The preliminary round draw took place on 9 February 2022. The draw was seeded into two, namely the northern and southern blocks. Northern block games were played on 26 and 27 February while southern block games were played on 5 and 6 March.
Northern block Date Home Score Away Ground 26 February Tsabotlhe 1-0 Sankoyo Bush Bucks 26 February Chadibe United 4-3 Chobe United 26 February Maun Heroes 0-5 Eleven Angels 26 February Sua Flamingoes 4-1 Santa Green 26 February Peacemakers 3-2 Maun Terrors 27 February BIUST All Stars 0-0 (5-4 pens.) Boston 27 February Calendar Stars 2-0 Motlakase Power Dynamos 27 February Pearisa 0-4 Nico United
Southern block Date Home Score Away Ground 5 March Mochudi Centre Chiefs 3-1 Masitaoka National Stadium 5 March Broadhurst United 1-1 (2-4 pens.) Kgabosetso 5 March Black Forest 0-0 (5-3 pens.) Black Rangers 5 March Maruapula Hungry Leopards 1-5 Matebele 6 March Uniao Flamengo Santos 0-2 Holy Ghost 6 March Tlokweng Red Sparks 2-0 Tlokweng United Tlokweng VDC Grounds26 March1Skoon Boys0-1Mogoditshane FightersCharleshill Ground 27 March2 Lokgwabe United 0-1 Motaung Young Fighters Tshane Prisons Ground
1 The match was originally supposed to be played on 5 March but was postponed due to the pitch being waterlogged as a result of heavy rains.
2 The match was originally supposed to be played on 5 March but was postponed due to the pitch being waterlogged as a result of heavy rains.
Round of 32 The round of 32 draw was conducted on 18 January 2022. It was not seeded. Tsabotlhe, BIUST All Stars, and Kgabosetso from Division One were the lowest ranked teams still in the competition. Date Home Score Away Ground22 April Tsabotlhe 0-0 (3-4 pens.) Sua FlamingoesSerowe Sports Complex Gilport Lions 0-1 Township Rollers National Stadium23 April BIUST All Stars 3-1 Tlokweng Red SparksSerowe Sports Complex Miscellaneous 0-2 Police XI Motaung Young Fighters 1-6 Gaborone UnitedMahusane Primary Notwane 0-3 TAFICNational Stadium Security Systems 2-0 Mochudi Centre Chiefs Peacemakers 0-1 Eleven AngelsSemolale Grounds Chadibe United 0-1 Calendar StarsChadibe Stadium Molepolole City Stars 0-2 BDF XILobatse Sports Complex Kgabosetso 1-4 Extension Gunners24 April Nico United 4-1 MR HighlandersSam Sono Stadium Holy Ghost 2-1 Orapa UnitedHoly Ghost Park Black Forest 1-0 Morupule WanderersBlack Forest Arena Mogoditshane Fighters 0-0 (2-4 pens.) Jwaneng GalaxyGalaxy Stadium Matebele 1-0 Prisons XISSG Ground
Round of 16 The round of 16 draw was conducted on 24 April. It was not seeded. BIUST All Stars was the lowest ranked team still in the competition. Date Home Score Away Ground 29 April Calendar Stars 0-5 Gaborone United Obed Itani Chilume Stadium30 April BIUST All Stars 0-3 Extension GunnersSerowe Sports Complex Nico United 1-2 Sua FlamingoesSam Sono Stadium Eleven Angels 1-2 Police XIObed Itani Chilume Stadium Township Rollers 1-2 Security SystemsLobatse Sports Complex31 April Holy Ghost 1-1 (1-3 pens.) BDFHoly Ghost Park Black Forest 1-2 Jwaneng GalaxyBlack Forest Arena4 May1Matebele3-0TAFICSSG Ground
1 The match was originally scheduled to be played on 30 April but was abandoned with Matebele leading 1-0 due to the pitch being waterlogged after heavy rains.
Quarterfinals The quarterfinal draw was conducted on 1 May after the conclusion of the round of 16. It was not seeded. Matebele from First Division South was the lowest ranked club still in the competition. Date Home Score Away Ground7 May Sua Flamingoes 0-6 BDF XI Sua Town Council Stadium Matebele 0-0 (3-1 pens.) Jwaneng GalaxyThe Nest StadiumPolice XI1-2Gaborone UnitedNational Stadium8 MayExtension Gunners1-2Security SystemsLobatse Sports Complex
Semifinals The semifinal draw was conducted on 24 May. Date Home Score Away Ground11 JuneSecurity Systems2-1BDF XINational StadiumGaborone United2-1 a.e.t.Matebele
Final Date Winners Score Runners-up Ground18 JuneSecurity Systems1-2Gaborone UnitedNational Stadium
References