SA, Botswana, Zimbabwe Bid to Host AFCON 2028

South Africa, Botswana and Zimbabwe formally submitted a joint bid to host the 2028 Africa Cup of Nations, Cosafa president Tariq Babitseng confirmed, NewZimbabwe.com reported. The move marks a strategic push to bring the tournament back to Southern Africa for the first time since 2013, leveraging shared infrastructure and political goodwill across the three nations. The bid faces stiff competition from North and West African rivals with more recent hosting experience and superior facilities. Zimbabwe's ongoing stadium bans and economic instability could weaken the coalition's credibility with CAF inspectors, who will scrutinize venues and logistics. A successful bid would boost regional tourism and infrastructure investment, but failure could expose the limitations of Zimbabwe's sports diplomacy. The coalition must present a united front and address CAF's concerns to avoid a humiliating rejection.