Botswana has withdrawn from the joint bid with South Africa and Zimbabwe to host the Africa Cup of Nations in 2028, leaving the opportunity for the two countries to pursue their bids individually with the Confederation of African Football (CAF).
The Botswana newspaper "Mmegi" reported that the withdrawal came after the government was unable to secure the necessary financial guarantees to continue the country's participation in the bidding process.
Botswana did not submit its bid documents before the deadline of September 14, 2026, unlike South Africa and Zimbabwe.
The newspaper explained that the decision was a result of financial pressures, along with the government's belief that hosting the Africa Cup of Nations is not a priority at this time.
For its part, the Botswana Football Association considered that securing financial guarantees was not necessary at this stage of the bidding process.
The original three-country project proposed hosting matches in Gaborone and Francistown.
Francistown already has a stadium approved by CAF, while the national stadium in Gaborone has undergone improvements to enhance its compliance with international standards, as well as reduce travel costs for teams between the two cities.
This withdrawal represents another missed opportunity for Botswana, which had previously applied to host the Africa Cup of Nations in 2027, before CAF awarded it to the joint bid from Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda.
The final decision regarding the host country or countries for the Africa Cup of Nations 2028 now rests with the Confederation of African Football.
