Botswana Withdrew From 2028 AFCON Bid
The government declined to provide mandatory guarantees for the joint southern African tournament bid.
Updated on Sept. 22, 2026 in Africa
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Botswana withdrew from a joint bid to host the 2028 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) after failing to provide necessary government guarantees. The move effectively ended the collaborative effort involving South Africa and Zimbabwe.
Why it matters
The government opted against the project after determining that hosting the tournament was not a financial priority. This decision prevents the nation from moving forward with the formal bidding process required by the Confederation of African Football.
The bidding process required formal government guarantees by the September 14 deadline, a move Botswana declined to take. This follows the nation's previous unsuccessful bid to host the 2027 AFCON finals.
The players
Confederation of African Football
This is the governing body for association football in Africa that organizes the biennial AFCON tournament.
Botswana Government
The administrative body responsible for national policy and the decision to decline financial guarantees for the bid.
The details
While South Africa and Zimbabwe submitted the required documentation for the 2028 tournament, Botswana opted out due to a cited lack of available funds. The project had originally planned for events in Gaborone and Francistown.
Timeline
September 14, 2026: The Confederation of African Football deadline for bid document submissions passed.
Travel Outlook
This decision follows the 2027 AFCON hosting rights award, which selected Tanzania, Kenya, and Uganda to host the tournament. The shift reflects a growing trend in African sports hosting toward multi-nation collaborative bids to spread infrastructure costs.
Travelers and sports fans should note that the planned regional infrastructure upgrades associated with the bid in Gaborone and Francistown are unlikely to proceed as originally envisioned. Prospective visitors to the region should adjust expectations for tournament-related tourism growth in the coming years.
The takeaway
This withdrawal highlights the immense financial commitments required for nations to host continental sporting events. Governments must carefully balance the prestige of such tournaments against broader national economic priorities.
Further reading
For more context on regional sporting developments, visit Africa.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Mmegi Online.
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