Botswana abandons 2028 AFCON bid after government declines financial guarantee

Botswana has withdrawn from the joint bid with South Africa and Zimbabwe to host the 2028 Africa Cup of Nations, after the government declined to provide the financial guarantee required for the proposal.

The decision leaves South Africa and Zimbabwe to continue the bidding process with the Confederation of African Football (CAF) without their southern African neighbour.

According to Botswana newspaper Mmegi, financial constraints and the government’s view that hosting the continental tournament is not currently a priority contributed to the decision.

Botswana consequently failed to submit the required bidding documents before the 14 September 2026 deadline, while South Africa and Zimbabwe completed their submissions.

Government decision ends three-country bid

The Botswana Football Association had previously argued that a financial guarantee was not required at the initial stage of the bidding process.

However, the government’s decision not to provide the backing ultimately ended Botswana’s involvement in the proposed three-country hosting arrangement.

The original plan would have seen matches played in Gaborone and Francistown, with organisers looking to make use of Francistown’s existing stadium facilities while renovation work continued at the National Stadium in Gaborone.

The proposed arrangement could also have helped reduce travel costs during the tournament.

Another setback for Botswana

Botswana’s withdrawal is another setback to the country’s ambitions of hosting Africa’s biggest football tournament.

The country had previously expressed an interest in staging the 2027 AFCON, but CAF eventually awarded that tournament to the joint bid from Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda.

South Africa and Zimbabwe will now continue their 2028 AFCON hosting bid without Botswana as CAF assesses the proposals.

The continental football governing body will ultimately decide which country or joint bid is awarded the rights to stage the 2028 tournament.