Botswana's bid to co-host the 2028 Africa Cup of Nations has been withdrawn after the government failed to provide the necessary guarantees. The withdrawal has left the Confederation of African Football (CAF) in a difficult situation, with the governing body struggling to find a new host. The Botswana-South Africa-Zimbabwe joint bid was seen as a strong contender, but the lack of government support has dealt a significant blow.
The CAF had set a deadline for bids to be submitted, which passed on Monday. However, Botswana was not among the countries that submitted their bids. The country's football association had been working on a joint bid with South Africa and Zimbabwe, but the lack of government guarantees has forced them to pull out. This has left the CAF with a significant challenge in finding a new host for the tournament.
The withdrawal of Botswana's bid has been attributed to a lack of funding and the event not being a priority for the government. The country's football association had argued that the requirements for the bid were too onerous and did not require significant financial guarantees at this stage. However, the government ultimately decided not to provide the necessary support.
The decision to withdraw from the bid has been met with disappointment from the local football community. The Botswana Football Association had been planning to host at least one group match in the capital, Gaborone, or in the city of Francistown, which has a CAF-approved stadium. The association had hoped that co-hosting the tournament would help to reduce the financial and logistical burden.
The CAF has not commented on the withdrawal of Botswana's bid, but the country's football association has referred to the Ministry of Sports and Arts as the relevant government agency. However, no official comment has been made by the minister, Jacob Kilelwe.
This is not the first time Botswana has bid to host the Africa Cup of Nations. In 2027, the country bid to host the tournament, but lost out to a joint bid from Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania. The withdrawal of Botswana's bid for the 2028 tournament is a significant setback for the country's football community.
The 2028 Africa Cup of Nations is expected to be a major event, with many countries vying for the right to host. The CAF will need to find a new host quickly, and it remains to be seen which country will ultimately be chosen. The tournament is a significant event for African football, and the host country will have the opportunity to showcase its capabilities on the continent.
Key points
- Botswana withdraws from 2028 Africa Cup of Nations bid due to lack of government guarantees.
- The withdrawal leaves CAF in a difficult situation, struggling to find a new host.
- This is not the first time Botswana has bid to host the Africa Cup of Nations, having lost out in 2027.
