Ethiopia Bids to Host AFCON 2028 After 52 Years

ADDIS ABABA: (Sports Desk) – Ethiopia has officially submitted its bid to host the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in 2028, seeking to stage the continental tournament for the first time in more than five decades.

The Ethiopian Football Federation confirmed the submission in a post on X late Monday. Ethiopia last hosted the prestigious African championship in 1976.

With a population of around 130 million, Ethiopia is Africa’s second-most populous country. Its capital, Addis Ababa, is also home to the headquarters of the African Union and stands at an altitude of approximately 2,300 metres, making it the highest capital city in Africa.

However, Ethiopia’s bid faces significant challenges, particularly over security concerns. Insurgencies continue in the country’s two most populous regions, Amhara and Oromia, while tensions involving the federal government and the northern Tigray region have raised fears of renewed conflict.

The country’s national football team also faces a difficult sporting landscape. Ethiopia is currently ranked 143rd among 211 teams by FIFA and last appeared at the AFCON finals in 2022, when it failed to progress beyond the group stage.

“Ethiopia has formally submitted its bid to CAF to host AFCON 2028,” the Ethiopian federation said, adding that the country was fully prepared to stage what it described as Africa’s biggest football event.

The most recent edition of AFCON was hosted by Morocco, while the next tournament is scheduled to be jointly staged by Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania.

From 2028, the AFCON is expected to move to a four-year cycle, bringing its schedule in line with other major FIFA competitions.

Meanwhile, Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso have expressed interest in jointly hosting the 2032 edition. The three West African nations have been battling serious security challenges linked to jihadist violence.