Ethiopia submits official bid to host 2028 AFCON

Ethiopia has formally entered the race to stage the 2028 Africa Cup of Nations after submitting its hosting application to the Confederation of African Football. The Ethiopian Football Federation announced the move on Monday evening, saying the federal government led by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed supports the bid.

The federation said the proposal satisfies CAF’s requirements and demonstrates Ethiopia’s readiness to hold Africa’s leading national-team tournament. The country last hosted the competition in 1976, meaning a successful bid would bring the tournament back after a 52-year gap. Ethiopia had declared its intention to apply earlier this year but had not previously filed an official dossier.

The candidacy comes as Ethiopia faces armed conflict in Amhara and Oromia, the country’s two most populous regional states, while tensions remain in Tigray. The 2020-2022 war in Tigray caused an estimated 600,000 deaths. Ethiopia is Africa’s second-most populous country, with about 130 million people, but ranks 143rd among 211 nations in the FIFA standings. Its most recent AFCON appearance was in 2021, when it exited in the group stage.

The 2028 tournament will follow the 2027 edition, which Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania will co-host. From 2028, the AFCON is scheduled to take place every four years rather than every two, aligning it with the cycle of other FIFA competitions. Addis Ababa, home to the African Union, is Ethiopia’s capital and sits above 2,300 metres.