South Africa, Botswana and Zimbabwe have formally launched a joint bid to host the 2028 Africa Cup of Nations, in a move aimed at returning Africa’s flagship football tournament to the Southern African region.
The bid was confirmed by Botswana Football Association President and Council of Southern Africa Football Associations President, Tariq Babitseng, who said the region is well-positioned to organise the continental showpiece.
“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.
The proposal unites three neighbouring countries with established football traditions and experience in staging major international sporting events.
South Africa hosted the Africa Cup of Nations in 1996 before becoming the first African nation to stage the FIFA World Cup in 2010.
Botswana and Zimbabwe, meanwhile, see the joint bid as an opportunity to highlight improvements in their football facilities and event-hosting capabilities.
Southern Africa has not hosted AFCON in recent years, with the tournament rotating among other regions of the continent.
The three-nation bid is part of COSAFA’s renewed push to secure the hosting rights while promoting wider regional participation in staging Africa’s biggest football event.
Babitseng said the initiative is in line with CAF President Patrice Motsepe’s objective of giving every region on the continent a fair opportunity to host the competition.
CAF is expected to receive strong interest from other prospective hosts for the 2028 tournament and will evaluate bids based on stadium quality, training facilities, accommodation, transport infrastructure and overall readiness to deliver the event.
Should the joint bid succeed, the 2028 AFCON would return to Southern Africa, providing a boost for football development, infrastructure investment and tourism across South Africa, Botswana and Zimbabwe.
