South Africa Confirms 2028 AFCON Bid With Botswana And Namibia

South Africa Sets Its Sights On 2028 AFCON

South Africa is officially back in the Africa Cup of Nations hosting conversation. Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture Gayton McKenzie has confirmed that the country is preparing a formal bid to host the 2028 AFCON, with plans to invite neighbouring Botswana and Namibia to join a united Southern African proposal.

Speaking in Rabat,  during an interview with SABC Sport, McKenzie framed the bid as more than just football. For government, he said, it forms part of a broader push to attract major international events that stimulate tourism, investment and job creation.

Why 2028 Matters For Southern Africa

If successful, the tournament would mark South Africa’s third time hosting AFCON, following the iconic 1996 triumph and the 2013 edition. Beyond those two moments, Southern Africa has largely watched the continent’s flagship football event move elsewhere.

Since 2013, AFCON has travelled through Central Africa, West Africa and North Africa, with Morocco hosting the most recent edition. The next tournament in 2027 will take place in East Africa, jointly hosted by Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania.

For McKenzie, this pattern strengthens the case for change.

Southern Africa, he argues, has waited long enough.

A Neighbourly Bid With Bigger Ambitions

A key feature of South Africa’s plan is collaboration. Botswana and Namibia may not yet have the same level of football infrastructure, but McKenzie sees the joint bid as an opportunity to uplift the region collectively rather than compete internally.

The idea is simple. South Africa brings experience, stadiums and event management capacity, while its neighbours gain exposure, investment and accelerated development. Behind the scenes, McKenzie has already begun mobilising discussions with his counterparts as the deadline to submit official interest approaches.

If approved, the bids would be formally submitted by the respective football federations, backed by their governments.

Football, Economics And A Changing Mood

McKenzie has been outspoken about the economic argument behind the bid. He believes South Africa is in a stronger position than many critics suggest, pointing to recent improvements in jobs data, inflation trends and a firmer rand.

The economy expanded by 0.5 percent in the third quarter of 2025, marking a fourth straight quarter of growth. While modest, the consistency matters, and McKenzie views AFCON 2028 as a chance to sustain that momentum through tourism spend, infrastructure upgrades and global visibility.

{Source:SABC Sport}

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