Ethiopia submits official bid to host Afcon 2028

Ethiopia has officially submitted its bid to host the 2028 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon), the country's football federation (EFF) announced. The bid, backed by the Ethiopian government, asserts the nation's readiness to host Africa's premier football tournament. Ethiopia last hosted Afcon in 1976 and has only qualified for the competition three times since then, most recently in the 2021 edition.

The EFF's proposal highlights ongoing infrastructure improvements, including the upcoming completion of the 62,000-capacity Adey Abeba International Stadium in Addis Ababa. Currently, Ethiopia has only one stadium—Bahir Dar Stadium—approved by the Confederation of African Football (Caf). The nation is also developing three additional stadiums, though these projects are still in early stages and would require significant progress to meet Caf's standards for the 2028 tournament.

Hosting Afcon 2028 would demand more than just stadium upgrades. Ethiopia would need to ensure compliance with Caf's requirements for training facilities, accommodations, transport, security, and match-day infrastructure. Security remains a particular concern, as parts of the country continue to face armed conflict and political instability.

Caf president Patrice Motsepe recently confirmed the organization has received "exciting bids" for the 2028, 2032, and 2036 Afcon tournaments, with the competition set to transition to a four-year cycle after 2028. A joint Southern African bid involving Botswana, Namibia, South Africa, and Zimbabwe has already been announced for 2028. Meanwhile, Morocco—host of the 2025 Afcon—is reportedly focusing on preparations for the 2030 FIFA World Cup and is not pursuing the 2028 bid.

Ethiopia's footballing history includes a 1962 Afcon title win on home soil, but the national team, ranked 143rd globally and 43rd in Africa, has struggled in recent appearances. Their most recent Afcon participation was in 2021, where they finished last in their group. Currently, Ethiopia is in Afcon qualifiers for the 2025 edition, competing in Group J alongside Senegal, Mozambique, and Sudan.

Critics question whether Ethiopia's infrastructure and security situation can support a tournament of Afcon's scale. While progress is being made, significant challenges remain in meeting Caf's standards across multiple host cities.

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