Botswana has officially withdrawn from its joint bid with South Africa (SA) and Zimbabwe to host the 2028 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) after its national government refused to issue the necessary financial guarantee, citing pressing budget constraints and competing national priorities.
The decision resulted in Botswana missing the Confederations of African Football (CAF) submission deadline on September 14, effectively terminating plans to hold tournament matches in Gaborone and Francistown. Although the Botswana Football Association argued that formal financial guarantees were not required at this preliminary stage, government cabinet officials maintained their firm refusal to underwrite potential financial risks.
SA and Zimbabwe are now set to proceed with the bidding process as a two-nation coalition. The exit follows Botswana’s previous unsuccessful attempt to secure the 2027 AFCON hosting rights, which the CAF awarded to a joint East African bid comprising Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda.
–ChannelAfrica–
