Adedokun Waliyu 
Ethiopia has formally submitted a bid to host the 2028 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), which would mark the country’s first opportunity to stage the continental tournament in more than 50 years.
The Ethiopian Football Federation confirmed the bid, saying the country is fully prepared to host Africa’s biggest football competition. Ethiopia last hosted the AFCON in 1976.
Ethiopia has Africa’s second-largest population, with around 130 million people, while its capital, Addis Ababa, is the headquarters of the African Union. The city is also the highest-altitude African capital, sitting at about 2,300 metres above sea level.
However, Ethiopia’s bid faces significant challenges. The country continues to experience insurgencies in Amhara and Oromia, its two most populous states, while tensions also remain over the possibility of renewed conflict between the federal government and the northern Tigray region.
Ethiopia’s national team is ranked 143rd among 211 countries by FIFA. The country last participated in the AFCON in 2022, when it was eliminated during the group stage.
“Ethiopia has formally submitted its bid to CAF to host AFCON 2028,” the Ethiopian Football Federation said, adding that the bid reaffirms the country’s readiness to host the continental tournament.
The AFCON was most recently hosted by Morocco, while the next edition will be jointly hosted by Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania.
From 2028, the AFCON is expected to move to a new four-year cycle instead of being held every two years, bringing it in line with the scheduling of other major FIFA competitions.
Meanwhile, Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso have expressed interest in jointly hosting the 2032 AFCON. The three West African countries are currently battling serious security challenges linked to jihadist violence.
