Ethiopia submits bid to host 2028 Africa Cup of Nations
Ethiopia has formally submitted its bid to host the 2028 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), with the Ethiopian Football Federation (EFF) saying the proposal has the backing of the federal government.
The federation said it had submitted its official Bid Handbook to the Confederation of African Football (CAF), describing the move as confirmation of the country’s readiness to stage the continent’s biggest football tournament.
Ethiopia has previously hosted the AFCON three times — in 1962, 1968 and 1976. It also won its only continental title in 1962, when it hosted the tournament.
However, Ethiopia’s bid faces questions over its sporting infrastructure. The country had only one CAF-approved stadium available for international matches last season, while several other venues require upgrades to meet the standards for a 24-team AFCON. A new international stadium and sports complex is also being developed in Addis Ababa.
CAF opened the bidding process for the 2028, 2032 and 2036 AFCON tournaments in July, saying the selection process would follow a transparent and competitive framework supported by independent advisers.
The 2027 tournament will be jointly hosted by Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda, meaning Ethiopia’s bid could keep the continental competition in East Africa for consecutive editions.
The 2028 edition will also mark a change in the tournament calendar, with CAF moving the men’s AFCON back to a four-year cycle, rather than the previous two-year schedule.
For Ethiopia, winning the bid would represent both a major sporting opportunity and a test of its ability to rapidly upgrade stadiums, transport, accommodation and other infrastructure to meet CAF’s hosting requirements.
