26 Jul 2023

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) inspection team is expected in the country anytime to carry out facilities inspection.

Botswana Bid Committee chairperson, Ashford Mamelodi said in an interview that Botswana’s lobbying efforts had been well-received.

He said currently they had only done two levels of lobby, adding that they attended the COSAFA Congress in Johannesburg and further explained that COSAFA has four potential votes.

“But, if you add the president of CAF, who’s also from South Africa, its five votes,” he said.

Furthermore, he stated that they also had an opportunity to make presentations at the CAF General Assembly which was held in Abidjan, Côte D’Ivoire.

Mamelodi said the assembly was impressed with the professionalism Botswana’s bid committee displayed.

“A good number of them applauded us for making an early move, saying that we were the first competing country to speak to them. And they were impressed with the professionalism, the approach that we made,” he said.

The bid chairperson said they would not rest on their laurels despite the commendation the country received.

“We want to move more strategically, go to perhaps some of the influential members of CAF in terms of countries. We’re still to finalise on that determination.

He, however said after the inspection visit, they would consider visiting the last few countries just to consolidate their lobby.

Botswana faces competition to host the 2027 tournament from countries like Senegal, Algeria, and joint bids from East African countries; Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda, and another joint bid from Nigeria and Benin.