08 Dec 2015

The Minister of Youth, Sport and Culture says tovernment and Botswana Football Association (BFA) have intentions to bid for hosting the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in the future.

However, Mr Thapelo Olopeng said there was no specific timeframe for the bid due to lack of financial resources to fund both the bidding and infrastructure required.

He noted that one of the key requirements for hosting the cup was for the country to have a 40 000 seating capacity stadium for the opening and closing ceremonies, and that under the current economic climate, construction of such a facility would present a challenge to the ministry.

Mr Olopeng said his ministry would continue to review the economic situation and would consider bidding once conditions improve to enable construction of required sporting facilities.

The Member of Parliament for Selebi Phikwe West, Mr Dithapelo Keorapetse, had asked the minister if there were any efforts and initiatives by the BFA and government to bid for hosting the Africa Cup of Nations in future, specifically in 2025 and if so, to explain fully these initiatives and efforts. Ends