BNOC seals deal with Namibia
Calistus Kolantsho | Monday November 9, 2026 06:00
The agreement was signed on the sidelines of the ongoing Youth Olympic Games in Dakar, Senegal. However, the partnership comes against the backdrop of Namibia's withdrawal from a joint agreement with Botswana to bid for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), just a day before the deadline for submitting expressions of interest.
In 2022, the two countries had signed an agreement under the BONA2027 bid, based on a 60-40 financing arrangement covering both the costs and proceeds of hosting the tournament.
BNOC president Tshepo Sitale told MmegiSport that the new MoU is intended to strengthen relations between the two sporting bodies. He, however, dismissed any suggestion that Namibia's withdrawal from the AFCON bid had a bearing on the latest agreement.
“Remember, we signed an MoU with Zimbabwe last year in Namibia. This time we signed with Namibia in Senegal and so on. Our MoU with South Africa is still being worked on and will be signed in due course,” he said.
Sitale said Namibia has made significant progress in some sporting disciplines, particularly non-traditional sports, despite having a socio-economic profile similar to Botswana's. He said Namibia admires Botswana's achievements in athletics and is keen to make progress in the same area.
“As is, Namibia teams are playing their CAF matches in Botswana at the National Stadium. We have a healthy relationship,” he said.
The MoU seeks to bring the two National Olympic Committees (NOCs) together to share expertise, resources and vision towards strengthening their respective sporting ecosystems through 2031. Key areas of cooperation include athlete development and high performance, with joint training camps and preparations aimed at equipping athletes for continental and global competitions.
The partnership will also facilitate technical and capacity building through bilateral exchanges involving coaches, technical officials, and sports administrators. In sport science and support, the two bodies will establish collaborative frameworks focusing on athlete health, performance science, and welfare. Another priority is regional synergy, with the agreement seeking to strengthen cooperation within the Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa (ANOCA) Zone VI and optimise the use of sporting resources across Southern Africa. Through the partnership, Botswana and Namibia hope to create stronger development programmes for young athletes, coaches and future champions to compete on the international stage.