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The Southern African nation was set to present a joint bid with Botswana and their exit eliminates further competition for the East African countries
Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania have been handed a major boost in their bid to win the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations hosting rights after Namibia pulled out of their joint bid with neighbours Botswana.
Namibia’s Sport Minister issued a statement on Wednesday, saying the country had terminated the joint bid after the Namibian government failed to approve the budgeted bid cost, according to the consulting company.
BONA, as the bid would be known between the two countries, was launched in April 2022 by both Southern African countries and was set to compete with other nations, particularly East Africa, for the hosting rights of the 2027 AFCON tournament.
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) last week sent a notice to the member associations to express their interest in hosting AFCON 2027, including the process that will be followed in the selection of the host country or countries.
Kenya joined Uganda and Tanzania in expressing an interest after Cabinet approved the country’s proposal to host the tournament alongside her East Africa neigbhours last December.
The Ugandan government and Parliament have also given their nod and Namibia’s pulling out is good news of some sort for the three East African countries since Botswana might be forced to exit the bidding process if they do not find a co-host in time.
East Africa seems to be in pole position after CAF president Patrice Motsepe encouraged Uganda and Tanzania to submit a joint bid last July, after expressing his desire to see the Cecafa region host the continental tournament, before Kenya joined the bandwagon.
Federation of Uganda Football Associations (FUFA) boss Moses Magogo last week revealed that the three countries will need a total of six stadiums and as many pitches to successfully host the tournament.
“Hosting AFCON is awarded on plans not on what you have. As a country, we will only work on sports infrastructure with a time frame in mind if we bid to co-host,” Magogo said via a social media post last week.
“Hosting AFCON requires six stadiums and six training pitches. Three countries hosting means each will need two stadiums and two pitches. With Namboole redone we (Uganda) need more one more stadium and two pitches in four years from now. With the goodwill of all of us, it is mission possible.”
The tournament hosts will be known before September and announced on an occasion that will also reveal the AFCON 2025 hosts.
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