Botswana has withdrawn from a joint bid with Zimbabwe and South Africa to host the 2028 Africa Cup of Nations. The withdrawal comes after the Botswana government declined to provide the required financial guarantee, leaving Zimbabwe and South Africa to continue pursuing the regional hosting proposal submitted to the Confederation of African Football (CAF). The Botswana Football Association had been working towards submitting the country's documents, but without the government acting as guarantor, they could not proceed.
According to reports, the Botswana government's refusal to provide financial backing effectively ended the country's involvement in the proposed three-nation bid. The Botswana Football Association had argued that a formal financial guarantee was not required during the initial stage of the process, but the government's decision prevented Botswana from completing its submission. Zimbabwe and South Africa, on the other hand, submitted the necessary documents before the deadline, supported by guarantees from their respective governments.
Under the original proposal, Botswana would have hosted matches in Gaborone and Francistown. The Francistown Stadium was expected to be included among the tournament venues, while renovations would have been required at the National Stadium in Gaborone to bring it up to CAF standards. The withdrawal represents another setback for Botswana's ambition to stage Africa's biggest international football tournament.
Botswana previously submitted a bid to host the 2027 AFCON but lost to the joint East African proposal from Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda. South Africa, which hosted AFCON in 1996 and 2013, as well as the 2010 FIFA World Cup, is expected to provide most of the established infrastructure required for the 2028 tournament. Zimbabwe would need to complete further stadium renovations and infrastructure improvements should the remaining joint proposal succeed.
Zimbabwe and South Africa will now continue without Botswana as CAF assesses the submissions received from prospective hosts. The withdrawal could require the two countries to revise parts of their bid, including the proposed distribution of matches, venues, accommodation, and transport arrangements. No formal announcement has yet been made on which Zimbabwean stadiums would form part of the final hosting plan.
Zimbabwe recently regained permission to stage international matches at the National Sports Stadium following extensive renovation work, although additional upgrades may be required to meet the standards for a major continental tournament. CAF is expected to inspect the proposed venues and supporting infrastructure before making its final decision. Hosting AFCON would bring significant tourism and commercial opportunities, but it would also require substantial government investment in stadiums, transport, security, accommodation, and tournament operations.
The bidding process for the 2028 AFCON has seen several countries vying for the hosting rights. While Zimbabwe and South Africa continue to pursue their joint bid, other countries may still submit their bids or be considered as hosts. The final decision on the host countries is expected to be made by CAF after inspecting the proposed venues and supporting infrastructure.
Key points
- Botswana's withdrawal from the 2028 AFCON bid leaves Zimbabwe and South Africa to pursue the joint hosting proposal.
- The Botswana government's refusal to provide a financial guarantee led to the country's withdrawal from the bid.
- Zimbabwe and South Africa are expected to proceed with their joint bid, with CAF inspecting the proposed venues and supporting infrastructure before making a final decision.
