Southern African nations submit joint bid to co-host 2028 AFCON
Three Southern African nations including Botswana, South Africa and Zimbabwe have submitted a joint bid to host the 2028 edition of the African Cup of Nations (AFCON).
The move was made known on Thursday by Botswana Football Association (BFA) President and Council of Southern Africa Football Associations (COSAFA) President Tariq Babitseng, who expressed confidence in the region’s ability to successfully stage the competition.
The ambitious proposal which is a cooperative effort among the countries involved seeks to bring the continent’s biggest football tournament back to the area.
Read Also: Meet Nigeria’s athletes going for glory at 2026 Commonwealth Games
“We have put in a bid and we are confident with the infrastructure we have, as well as the vision of CAF President Dr Patrice Motsepe, who believes all regions should have the opportunity to host AFCON,” Babitseng said.
“As COSAFA, we feel we stand a better chance to host,” he added.
South Africa is designated to stage the majority of the tournament due to its world-class stadiums built for the 2010 FIFA World Cup while Botswana and Zimbabwe will host selected matches.
The 2028 tournament holds a unique place in African football history, as CAF has confirmed it will be the final tournament before AFCON transitions from a biennial (two-year) cycle to a quadrennial (four-year) cycle.
