Botswana and Namibia have launched a joint bid to host the 2027 AFCON finals and a South African company, Reuben Reddy Architects was appointed to undertake an extensive audit of the facilities. The exercise has been completed in Botswana and moves to Namibia this week with its outcome crucial on the future of the bid. Technical bid committee chairperson, Ashford Mamelodi underlined the importance of the audit during a press briefing in Gaborone on Monday. Mamelodi admitted the facilities audit could have come much earlier, but there were delays along the way. “There were serious delays but the pace is improving. That is why we are now in the process of procuring a lead consultant. We live in hope,” Mamelodi said.
The facilities audit data capture concluded with a trip to Kasane on February 13 and today, Reuben Reddy Architects representative were expected to touch down at the Hosea Kutaku International Airport in Namibia to continue the fact finding mission. “All things being equal, we expect the delivery of the facilities audit report in mid-March and the bid book no later than May,” Mamelodi said.
He said there were still outstanding issues with bid ambassadors after two out of the eight did not sign the contract. “There are sticky issues, but we expect to finalise the outstanding issue soon. The bid ambassadors will soon undergo an induction workshop,” he said.
