Ethiopia has formally entered the race to host the 2028 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), seeking to bring the continent’s premier football tournament back to the country more than five decades after it last staged the competition.
The Ethiopian Football Federation has submitted its official bid to the Confederation of African Football (CAF), backed by the Ethiopian government as the country seeks to showcase its growing sporting ambitions and revive its historic connection with the continental championship.
If successful, Ethiopia would host AFCON for the fourth time, having previously staged the tournament in 1962, 1968 and 1976.
AFCON History Gives Ethiopia a Strong Hosting Claim
Ethiopia holds a special place in African football history.
The country hosted the inaugural Africa Cup of Nations in 1962 and went on to win the tournament on home soil after defeating Egypt in the final. It remains Ethiopia’s only AFCON title.
Four years later, Ethiopia hosted the competition again before welcoming Africa’s leading national teams for a third time in 1976.
However, more than 50 years have passed since the tournament was last played in Ethiopia.
A successful 2028 bid would therefore represent a major return to the continental stage and give a new generation of Ethiopian football fans an opportunity to watch Africa’s biggest national teams compete at home.
Government backs ambitious proposal
The Ethiopian government has thrown its weight behind the bid, providing the guarantees required for the hosting proposal.
Authorities have also been working to improve the country’s sports infrastructure, with several stadium projects and upgrades forming part of Ethiopia’s wider plans to attract major international competitions.
One of the most important projects is the Adey Abeba Stadium in Addis Ababa.
The planned 62,000-capacity facility is expected to become Ethiopia’s flagship football venue. Its pitch has already received FIFA accreditation following testing, although the wider stadium project still needs to be completed and certified for major international competitions.
The stadium could become the centrepiece of Ethiopia’s AFCON proposal if construction is completed within the required timeframe.
Infrastructure could determine Ethiopia’s chances
Despite the strength of its historical claim, Ethiopia faces a significant challenge in demonstrating that it can provide the infrastructure required for a modern AFCON tournament.
CAF’s requirements extend beyond stadiums. A successful host must provide quality training facilities, hotels, transport systems, security arrangements, medical services, broadcasting infrastructure and other logistical facilities capable of handling thousands of visitors.
Ethiopia has experienced difficulties with stadium certification in recent years, with its national team forced to play some international fixtures outside the country because suitable venues were unavailable.
That history means infrastructure readiness will likely be one of the most closely examined aspects of the Ethiopian proposal.
Bahir Dar Stadium has already attained CAF Category 3 status, while other cities, including Hawassa, Dire Dawa, Jimma and Mekele, have been identified for stadium development or improvement.
The government will need to ensure that these facilities are completed and brought up to the required standards before the tournament.
Strong competition for hosting rights
Ethiopia is entering a highly competitive bidding process.
Morocco is among the countries seeking the 2028 tournament, while South Africa and Botswana have also submitted a joint proposal.
Both alternatives have considerable advantages.
South Africa has extensive experience hosting major football tournaments, including the 1996 and 2013 AFCON editions and the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
Morocco, meanwhile, hosted the 2025 AFCON and has invested heavily in football infrastructure ahead of the 2030 FIFA World Cup, which it will co-host with Spain and Portugal.
Ethiopia’s strongest argument is therefore likely to centre on its football heritage, government commitment, regional significance and plans to modernise its sporting infrastructure.
East Africa’s football moment
Ethiopia’s bid comes as East Africa prepares for its own historic AFCON moment.
Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda will jointly host the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations, giving the region an opportunity to stage the competition for the first time in decades.
If Ethiopia wins the 2028 hosting rights, AFCON would remain in East Africa for consecutive editions.
Such a development could accelerate football infrastructure investment across the region and create opportunities for tourism, hospitality and sports-related businesses.
It could also provide Ethiopia with an opportunity to benefit from the experience gained by its neighbours during the 2027 tournament.
A new era for AFCON
The 2028 edition will be particularly important because it will mark the beginning of a new AFCON scheduling cycle.
CAF has decided to move the men’s Africa Cup of Nations from a two-year cycle to a four-year schedule, apart from years affected by the FIFA World Cup calendar.
The change is designed to reduce congestion in the international football calendar and give AFCON greater commercial and sporting prominence.
The 2027 tournament in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda will be the final edition under the previous cycle, making the 2028 competition the first of the new era.
That could make the hosting rights particularly attractive to countries seeking to establish themselves as major sporting destinations.
Economic opportunities for Ethiopia
For Ethiopia, hosting AFCON would provide benefits well beyond football.
A successful tournament could boost tourism, hotel occupancy, transport services, employment and investment.
Addis Ababa already serves as a major diplomatic hub as the headquarters of the African Union. Hosting AFCON would add another high-profile international event to the city’s growing list of global engagements.
The construction and renovation of stadiums could also leave a lasting sporting legacy.
Modern facilities could be used for domestic league matches, international fixtures, athletics competitions, concerts and other major events after the tournament.
The increased international exposure could further enhance Ethiopia’s reputation as a destination for sports tourism.
A boost for Ethiopian football
Hosting AFCON could also provide a much-needed boost to Ethiopian football.
The national team has struggled to maintain a consistent presence at the continent’s biggest tournaments in recent years.
Ethiopia’s most recent AFCON appearance came in 2022, when the Walias failed to progress beyond the group stage.
The lack of suitable international-standard stadiums has also complicated the team’s preparations and forced some home matches to be played outside the country.
Hosting the tournament would address some of those infrastructure challenges while giving Ethiopian football an opportunity to attract greater investment.
It could also inspire young players and increase interest in the domestic game.
The race is far from over
Submitting the bid is only the beginning of Ethiopia’s journey.
CAF will evaluate the competing proposals based on infrastructure, financial guarantees, accommodation, transport, security, stadiums, training facilities and the overall ability of each country to stage a successful tournament.
Ethiopia’s biggest task will be demonstrating that its ambitious infrastructure plans can be delivered on time.
The Adey Abeba Stadium will be particularly important, while the country’s other proposed venues will also need to meet CAF’s requirements.
The government and football federation will therefore face considerable pressure in the months ahead.
A chance to rewrite history
Ethiopia’s 2028 AFCON bid is ultimately an attempt to reconnect the country with a competition that has played a major role in its football history.
From hosting and winning the inaugural tournament in 1962 to staging AFCON for the third time in 1976, Ethiopia was once at the heart of African football.
More than five decades later, the country wants another opportunity.
A successful bid would give Ethiopia its fourth AFCON hosting opportunity, potentially transform its sporting infrastructure and provide a major boost to its football industry.
For Ethiopian football supporters, the prospect is even more significant: the possibility of seeing Africa’s finest national teams return to the country after a 52-year absence.
The final decision will rest with CAF, but Ethiopia has made its ambition clear it wants the 2028 Africa Cup of Nations on home soil.
