Patrice Motsepe, President of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), has endorsed Botswana's bid to co-host the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations with Namibia.
According to Mmegi Online, the South African billionaire met with Botswana's Minister of Sport, Gender, Youth, and Culture, Tumiso Rakgare, as well as officials from the Botswana Football Association (BFA), to discuss the bid.
Botswana and neighbouring Namibia have never hosted the Africa Cup of Nations, but they are working on a joint proposal to host the tournament in five years.
Motsepe believes the bid has a chance of success, despite opposition from countries such as Burkina Faso, Morocco, and Senegal.
"There is absolutely no reason why you should not host the AFCON finals," the CAF President was quoted as saying by Mmegi Online.
He praised Botswana's women's national team for qualifying for the Africa Women's Cup of Nations in Morocco later this year for the first time, and vowed to support the BFA in its efforts to develop the sport in the southern African country.
"It is my duty to ensure that Botswana football grows," Motsepe said.
"There is no CAF if football doesn’t grow.
"I leave Botswana confident and proud.
"You have the talent.
"Days of talking about potential are gone."
Botswana have only made one appearance at the Africa Cup of Nations, while Namibia qualified for the third time in 2019.
The competition will be held in the Ivory Coast next year, with Guinea being awarded the 2025 tournament.
Southern Africa hasn't hosted the Africa Cup of Nations since 2013, when it was hosted by South Africa.