South Africa’s Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture, Gayton McKenzie, has confirmed that Pretoria is preparing a bid to host the 2028 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), with plans to co-host the tournament alongside Namibia and Botswana.
Speaking to SABC Sport last week, McKenzie said the time had come for the Southern African region to reclaim the tournament, noting that it has been more than a decade since the last AFCON held in the area—South Africa hosted the competition in 2013.
“The time has come, and I can tell you unapologetically that South Africa will be submitting a bid for the 2028 AFCON, and we will invite countries like Namibia and Botswana, and because we are neighbourly, we want to say to them, form part of our bid.”
His announcement has sparked reactions across the region, with opinions divided on whether a joint bid would be feasible.
In Namibia, sports director Vetumbuavi Veii welcomed the idea, arguing that hosting AFCON could push the country’s stadium infrastructure to meet the standards required by FIFA and CAF.
“It could finally bring the standard of our stadiums to the level required by the International Federation of Football Associations and the CAF,” he told The Namibian.
But not everyone shares Veii’s optimism. Namibian football analyst Hector Mawango pointed to past challenges, recalling Namibia’s failed attempt to bid for the 2027 AFCON alongside Botswana.
He attributed the setback to delays in upgrading the Independence Stadium, blaming bureaucratic hurdles and a lack of clear accountability.
“We were supposed to bid for the 2027 AFCON with Botswana, but failed because our stadium was not ready.
“The delay in the upgrade of the Independence Stadium comes down to bureaucracy. We have no idea who is accountable or has the final say.
“The delay in the upgrade demonstrates the government’s lack of commitment.”
Former Namibia Football Association secretary-general Barry Rukoro also raised concerns about the scale of the project, suggesting that Namibia and Botswana would struggle to host on their own.
He cited Morocco’s recent AFCON as evidence that the tournament’s standards have risen significantly.
“It’s difficult for Namibia and Botswana to do it on their own. If you look at the recent AFCON in Morocco, the bar has been lifted so high.”
A final decision on the joint bid will need to be made soon, as CAF has set a deadline of February 1, 2025, for interested federations to formally confirm their intent to bid.
