Botswana withdraws from joint 2028 AFCON hosting bid

Botswana has withdrawn from its joint bid to host the 2028 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) alongside South Africa and Zimbabwe. The decision follows the Botswana government's refusal to provide the necessary financial guarantees required by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) before the September 14 deadline.

Reports indicate the government does not currently view hosting the continental tournament as a priority due to a lack of available funds. While the Botswana Football Association (BFA) had previously attempted to maintain the candidacy, arguing that such guarantees were not required at that specific stage of the process, the government's stance effectively ended the three-nation proposal.

The original plan intended to host matches in Gaborone and Francistown to distribute responsibilities and manage costs. Following Botswana's exit, South Africa and Zimbabwe will proceed with their joint candidacy, and CAF will ultimately decide on the host for the 2028 tournament.