With a bid project dubbed ‘BONA’, Botswana and Namibia will have to bring their A-game to convince CAF to award them the rights to organise the tournament.
A technical bid committee, headed by Ashford Mamelodi has been set up, with the two countries’ governments committing their support.
Botswana’s President, Mokgweetsi Masisi has previously indicated his administration will do everything to ensure the country hosts the 2027 showpiece.
While the budget for the tournament is unknown, it is expected to run into billions of pula, with infrastructure development accounting for the largest chunk.
Botswana will get 60% of the hosting share while Namibia has been allocated the remaining 40%. With only two southern African countries, Angola and South Africa hosting the CAF’s flagship competition since its inception in 1957, Botswana and Namibia’s joint bid appeared to carry sufficient gravitas to sway votes in their favour.
However, new entrants, including fellow southern African nations, Zambia and East African neighbours, Uganda and Tanzania have changed the complexion of the game.
Botswana has three facilities which need refurbishment to meet CAF standards, while a fourth stadium might need to be built.
The organising committee has identified Maun as the fourth host town after Gaborone, Lobatse, and Francistown.
The Obed Itani Chilume Stadium is currently the only facility that can host international matches, while the National Stadium and the Lobatse Sports Complex await the green light from CAF after failing tests previously.
Namibia has no CAF-approved venue, with the national teams forced to play their home matches in South Africa.
Work has reportedly begun to revamp the Independence Stadium, with the Sam Nujoma Stadium expected to be the other in line to host AFCON matches if the CAF bid is successful. The BONA bid faces formidable competition from Morocco, while Senegal is also on the tentative list.
Burkina Faso is the other country credited with interest as seven nations have expressed their desire to host the competition. Tanzania and Uganda are mulling a joint bid and CAF president, Patrice Motsepe has given the East Africans encouragement.
Motsepe was also in Botswana in May where he pledged to support the joint bid.
“Given what some of the countries that are said to be interested already have, we will have to pull all the stops. The good thing is that the most amount of money will be going into infrastructure development; and that will be enjoyed by Batswana post the final. So even if the cost will be a bit high; it will be a worthwhile investment. We will effectively be fast tracking developments that we need anyway,” Botswana National Sport Commission chief executive officer, Tuelo Serufho said.
The BONA bid technical committee is carrying out an audit of facilities in both countries to ascertain the overall cost of the project. CAF will decide on the host of the 2027 edition early next year. The mother body has not shared the hosting guidelines.
