By Issah Olegor
Southern Africa is positioning itself for a significant role in African football administration as South Africa and Botswana explore a joint bid to host the 2028 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), according to reports emerging from a Confederation of African Football (CAF) Executive Committee meeting held in Rabat, Morocco.
The reported interest by the two neighbouring countries comes at a pivotal moment for CAF, with the continent’s flagship football tournament undergoing a major structural transition.
The 2028 AFCON is expected to be the final edition staged under the current two-year hosting cycle before CAF officially switches to a four-year format, a reform aimed at aligning Africa’s football calendar with FIFA’s global competition schedule.
Discussions around the potential co-hosting arrangement surfaced ahead of the final of the ongoing 2025 AFCON in Morocco, where defending champions Senegal faced hosts Morocco.
Morocco are chasing a second continental title and their first AFCON triumph since 1976, while Senegal, champions in 2021, are seeking to further cement their recent dominance on the African stage.
The 2025 tournament in Morocco follows CAF’s increasing preference for multi-nation hosting models.
That trend will continue in 2027, when Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania jointly stage the competition—East Africa’s first experience hosting AFCON.
The South Africa–Botswana proposal would extend this regional approach to Southern Africa, potentially leveraging shared infrastructure, transport corridors and commercial markets.
South Africa brings considerable hosting pedigree to the table, having successfully staged the 2010 FIFA World Cup, the 1996 AFCON—which it won—and several CAF and FIFA competitions since.
Botswana, while less experienced at hosting major continental tournaments, has in recent years invested in stadium upgrades and sports infrastructure as part of broader efforts to raise its football profile.
On the pitch, both nations endured mixed fortunes at the 2025 AFCON. Botswana exited at the group stage, while South Africa’s campaign ended in the round of 16 following a 2–1 defeat to Cameroon.
Despite those early exits, officials and football administrators in both countries appear keen to translate participation into long-term continental influence through hosting.
CAF’s broader reforms—including calendar realignment and expanded commercial partnerships—have heightened competition among member associations to host AFCON editions seen as strategically important.
The 2028 tournament, in particular, is viewed as a bridge between eras: closing the chapter on biennial AFCONs while setting the tone for the new four-year cycle.
While CAF has yet to formally open the bidding process for 2028, the early expression of interest from South Africa and Botswana signals growing ambition within Southern Africa to reassert itself as a hub for elite African football—both on and off the field.
