The Botswana Football Association's bid to co-host the 2028 Africa Cup of Nations (CAN-2028) with South Africa and Zimbabwe has been dealt a blow after the country withdrew from the joint bid. According to reports from the Botswana publication Mmegi, the withdrawal comes after the government refused to provide the required financial guarantee. This decision was made due to financial constraints, with the government considering the organization of the CAN as a lower priority.
The Botswana government did not submit the necessary documents by the deadline of September 14, 2026, which led to the country's withdrawal from the bid. The Botswana Football Association (BFA) had initially believed that a financial guarantee was not necessary at that stage of the process. As part of the initial three-country bid, Gaborone and Francistown were proposed as host cities, with Francistown already having a CAF-approved stadium.
The National Stadium in Gaborone had undergone renovations to improve its compliance with international standards and reduce costs associated with team travel between the two cities. The withdrawal marks another missed opportunity for Botswana, which had previously bid to host CAN-2027, ultimately awarded to the joint bid from Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda.
With Botswana's withdrawal, South Africa and Zimbabwe will now pursue their bid alone. The final decision on the host country or countries for CAN-2028 rests with the Confederation of African Football (CAF). The Botswana government had been facing financial constraints, which contributed to the decision to withdraw from the bid.
The country's withdrawal from the CAN-2028 bid highlights the challenges faced by Botswana in hosting major international events. The BFA had been working to develop the country's football infrastructure, including the National Stadium in Gaborone and the stadium in Francistown.
Botswana's withdrawal from the CAN-2028 bid is a setback for the country's football ambitions. The country had been looking to host a major international football event, but the financial constraints have forced it to re-evaluate its priorities.
The CAF will now consider the bids from South Africa and Zimbabwe, as well as any other potential host countries, in determining the host of CAN-2028. The decision is expected to be made in the coming months, with the CAF taking into account various factors, including the countries' football infrastructure and their ability to host a major international event.
Key points
- Botswana withdraws from CAN-2028 bid due to financial constraints.
- South Africa and Zimbabwe to pursue joint bid alone.
- CAF to decide on CAN-2028 host country or countries.
