Earlier this year, Botswana announced plans to host the biennial competition and has launched a joint bid with neighbours Namibia. Botswana has the majority hosting stake at 60%, with the remainder going to Namibia. With most facilities in need of an upgrade to meet CAF hosting standards, the government, in the transitional NDP, indicates the bulk of the budget reserved for the Ministry of Youth, Sport, Gender and Culture, will go towards the AFCON bid. The transition NDP is expected to be tabled before the current sitting of Parliament. “The programme entails refurbishment of facilities to increase access and participation in sport for the promotion of healthy lifestyles.
These facilities are planned to be developed in different centres around the country including Francistown, Lobatse, and Gaborone,” reads the document. “The facilities are also needed as part of the Botswana bid to host the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations in partnership with Namibia and also in a quest to have Botswana hosting other major sporting events in future.” As part of preparing for the tournament, the Obed Itani Chilume Stadium will have a roof constructed at a cost of P105 million. During the 2023-2024 financial year, P50 million will be spent on the Obed Itani Chilume roof project, with P55 million allocated for the 2024-2025 period. The stadium’s roof construction is a separate item under the transitional NDP and is not included in the overall AFCON hosting budget. Under AFCON hosting, P50 million will be spent during the 2023–2024 period, before a significant increase to P1.084billion in the subsequent financial year.
