Sports Correspondent
Zimbabwe has joined forces with regional neighbours South Africa and Botswana in a joint bid to host the 2028 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), raising hopes that the continent’s premier football tournament could return to Southern Africa.
The proposed three-country bid brings Zimbabwe into a major continental hosting campaign that seeks to showcase the region’s football infrastructure and sporting potential.
The move was confirmed by COSAFA president and Botswana Football Association president Tariq Babitseng, who said the three countries had submitted a joint bid and were set to meet to discuss any outstanding issues ahead of the next stage of the process.
Babitseng said the three nations possess the infrastructure and organisational capacity needed to host the tournament while aligning with the vision of Confederation of African Football (CAF) President Patrice Motsepe.
“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.”
For Zimbabwe, the bid could provide a major boost to the country’s football infrastructure, with the country currently refurbishing key stadiums in an effort to meet international standards.
Babitseng said Zimbabwe’s stadium refurbishment programme was expected to have facilities ready by next year, while Botswana has venues in Gaborone and Francistown that could form part of the proposed tournament infrastructure.
South Africa would provide the joint bid with considerable experience in hosting major international sporting events, having staged the 2010 FIFA World Cup and hosted the AFCON in 1996 and 2013. The country also has a network of established stadiums and transport infrastructure capable of supporting a major continental tournament.
The bid represents a potentially significant opportunity for Zimbabwe, which has a long football tradition but has faced challenges over the readiness of its stadiums to host major international matches.
Hosting AFCON matches would give Zimbabwe the chance to bring some of Africa’s biggest football nations and stars to the country, while potentially generating revenue for the tourism, hospitality and transport sectors.
The joint proposal also strengthens the argument for a regional approach to hosting major sporting events, allowing Zimbabwe and Botswana to leverage South Africa’s established infrastructure and experience while showcasing their own developing facilities.
For Zimbabwean football fans, the prospect of seeing AFCON matches played on home soil would be a major attraction, particularly after years in which the country’s stadiums have struggled to meet international requirements.
The three nations now face the crucial task of aligning their plans and ensuring that the proposed venues and supporting infrastructure meet the requirements set by the Confederation of African Football (CAF). The bid will ultimately have to compete with other proposals for the right to stage the 2028 tournament.
If successful, the Southern African bid would mark a major return of AFCON to the region and place Zimbabwe at the centre of one of the continent’s biggest sporting events.
