Southern Africa’s 2028 AFCON push: Four-nation bid signals a new era of shared hosting

Zimbabwe, South Africa, Botswana and Namibia have formally submitted a joint bid to stage the 2028 Africa Cup of Nations, with COSAFA’s newly elected president Oabile Thona Tariq Babitseng confirming the paperwork was filed on time. The proposal leans into a rotating, regional model that could reshape how AFCON is delivered—both financially and culturally—for fans across the continent.