- CAF inspection boosts chances of the venue hosting international football
- BFA aims for Category Three status ahead of Botswana’s 2028 AFCON bid
- Approval would ease the pressure on Francistown’s only certified stadium
The long-awaited return of international football to the National Stadium may be closer than ever. This week, CAF inspectors visited Gaborone for a fresh evaluation of the National Stadium and the Lobatse Sports Complex. Their inspection has reignited hopes that the National Stadium could finally regain continental approval after years of falling short of the standards needed to host international matches.
A positive outcome would be a huge boost for Botswana football. It would allow national teams and local clubs competing in CAF interclub competitions to host their home matches right here in Gaborone. Right now, Francistown’s Obed Itani Chilume Stadium is the country’s only CAF-certified venue, which puts immense strain on that facility whenever international fixtures take place.
Botswana Football Association (BFA) president Oabile Tariq Babitseng shared his optimism with the media this week. “We are pushing to host Category Three matches so that we can be able to host all our home games here, that is the national teams and CAF club competitions,” Babitseng said. The timing of this push is crucial, as Botswana works hard to strengthen its case as a host for major international football events.
Babitseng, who also serves as COSAFA president, sees the National Stadium’s return to the CAF-approved list as vital for Botswana’s bid to host the 2028 Africa Cup of Nations finals. The shortage of approved venues remains one of the biggest hurdles to hosting high-profile international football.
This shortage has even led neighboring countries without CAF-certified facilities to turn to Botswana. According to Babitseng, Namibia and Zimbabwe have previously used Obed Itani Chilume Stadium for their international matches because they lack approved venues of their own.
While hosting these matches has boosted Botswana’s standing as a regional football hub, it has also highlighted the urgent need for an additional certified stadium. “The demand on Obed Itani Chilume is too high,” Babitseng explained, emphasizing that approving the National Stadium would relieve some of that pressure and add another venue for regional and continental fixtures.
This week’s inspection carries weight far beyond Botswana’s local football scene. The National Stadium has long been the traditional home of the Zebras and one of the country’s most iconic sports landmarks. Its inability to host CAF-sanctioned matches has forced national teams and clubs to play in Francistown or even seek venues outside Botswana.
Babitseng’s experience traveling across Africa and attending major international sports events has given him a clear picture of what modern stadium infrastructure should look like. One improvement he has identified is relocating the changing rooms. Currently, they are in the eastern stand, known locally as Panda. Babitseng believes moving them to the Grandstand would bring the stadium closer to international standards. Still, he made it clear that this proposed change is not part of the requirements CAF is assessing during this inspection.
The immediate goal is to meet the standards necessary to secure Category Three approval. For Botswana football, the stakes couldn’t be higher. A successful inspection would not only restore the National Stadium’s international status but also strengthen the country’s infrastructure as it pursues major continental opportunities.
After several failed attempts, this fresh inspection offers a new chance to revive the stadium’s standing. For Babitseng and the BFA, the hope is that this time the National Stadium will finally get the green light—and bring international football back to Gaborone.