13 Apr 2023

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has set May 23 as the deadline for submissions  to host AFCON 2027.

As per CAF requirements, Botswana and Namibia, like all other countries willing to host, should submit the final bid, including all bidding and hosting documents, hosting agreement, host cities agreement and government guarantees.

Botswana and Namibia, dubbed BoNa, have shown interest to co-host the Africa show piece in 2027, therefore, they will have to submit their documents before the deadline.

They are also required to have submitted declaration of interest form to host AFCON 2027 signed by the legal representative of the association concerned.

In an interview, bid committee chairperson, Ashford Mamelodi, said they were determined to submit a bid book for BoNa 2027.

“In terms of whether or not we will be able to deliver, we must first have the appointment of the lead consultant concluded. Once that is done, we will engage the lead consultant on whether or not they will be able to have us deliver the bid book within deadline,’’ he said.

Mamelodi said the contract  would have to speak to timely delivery of the bid book as a condition.

In other issues, Mamelodi said they had a fruitful meeting with the Minister of Youth, Gender, Sport and Culture, Tumiso Rakgare.

He said it was resolved that priority must be given to lobbying for votes for the bid and defer activations as well as other promotions to after the bid had been submitted.

He said the facilities audit reports had been submitted to Rakgare and Namibia’s Minister of Sport, Youth and National Service, Agnes Tjongarero, adding the two were undertaking necessary consultations  before communicating the position of the two governments.

Furthermore, Mamelodi said the meeting with minister Rakgare also resolved that the Botswana Football Association and the Namibia Football Associations should file a joint expression of interest as soon as CAF officially opens the bid. ENDS