Africa-Press – Botswana. Council of Southern Africa Football Associations (COSAFA) has expressed support for Botswana’s bid to host AFCON 2027.
Botswana has submitted its bid book to CAF and the verdict as to who gets the nod from the Africa’s football governing body is expected in September
Botswana Television sport journalist, Tumo Mpatane, who has been following the development said the COSAFA endorsement was a positive for Botswana. He said this was a good starting point for the country to start mobilisation for more votes.
He said countries would start mobilisation just closer or after the CAF inspections, adding that for Botswana to start early it meant the country could get favour from Southern Africa.
Mpatane said countries within Botswana’s circle had executive members with the right to vote.
“If you look at it, 22 voting members will decide where AFCON 2027 would be hosted and out of that number, five are from Southern Africa,” he said.
Mpatane said it was clear from the COSAFA meeting that the five unanimously endorsed Botswana’s bid to host AFCON 2027.
He said every member was given Botswana’s bid book, something that would enable them to sell Botswana’s dream.
“It is going to be a tricky one. I think Botswana stand a very good chance because Egypt hosted in 2019. So I think CAF will want an easier road to offer a new country, new region the opportunity to host,” Mpatane said.
As for Algeria, he said they were unfortunate because they were in North Africa, adding the region had over the past edition hosted the tournament.
“It is time that this tournament comes down south, but we will see how it pens out, also considering that the vote can be spilt. If I can predict it now, I think Botswana will win the bid by 13 votes, ” Mpatane said.
He said the 13 votes would come from COSAFA (five), but the Council of East and Central Africa Football Association (CECAFA) may have about three spilt votes, adding in the North Africa Botswana would look for three votes.
In that regard, he said Botswana was therefore most likely to start forging relationships, adding that the target of the bid committee was 12 votes.
However, looking at the football landscape, he was confident that the country might get more than 12.
Mpatane, a former Botswana Football Association communications officer, said considering the demographics and prevailing voting patterns, Botswana had a good opportunity to bring AFCON 2027 to Southern Africa.
He, however, said the onus was now on the BFA, the Ministry of Youth, Gender, Sport and Culture as well as the public to understand the importance of hosting such a big tournament.
He said it was paramount for Botswana get ready to fully support the bid and the reality was that ‘we might just get this one’.
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