Ethiopia Throws Hat in Ring for 2028 AFCON Hosting Rights

Ethiopia has officially put forward its proposal to host the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in 2028, a move that, if successful, would mark the nation's first time organizing the continental football spectacle in over five decades. The Ethiopian Football Federation confirmed this development through a statement posted on its official X account late on Monday. The last occasion Ethiopia hosted the prestigious tournament was back in 1976.

The East African nation, boasting Africa's second-largest population with approximately 130 million inhabitants, also houses the African Union (AU) headquarters in its capital, which stands at an impressive 2,300 meters, making it the highest-altitude capital on the continent. Despite these advantages, the bid faces significant hurdles. These include ongoing conflicts in its two most populous regions, Amhara and Oromia, alongside persistent threats of renewed conflict between the federal government and the Tigray region in the north.

In terms of footballing prowess, the Ethiopian national team currently holds the 143rd position globally according to FIFA rankings. Their most recent appearance in the biennial AFCON tournament was in 2022, where their campaign concluded in the group stage.

The Ethiopian Football Federation's post on X explicitly stated: “Ethiopia has formally submitted its bid to CAF to host AFCON 2028,” adding that it was “reaffirming the nation’s full readiness to host Africa’s biggest footballing event.”

Historically, Morocco was the host for the last AFCON, while the upcoming 2025 edition of the tournament will be jointly organized by Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania. A notable change in the tournament's structure will see AFCON shifting to a quadrennial schedule from 2028 onwards, aligning it with other major FIFA competitions. Furthermore, other West African nations like Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso, despite grappling with severe jihadist violence, have reportedly expressed interest in co-hosting the 2032 AFCON, according to their respective football federations.