Ethiopia has formally submitted its bid to host the 2028 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), in a move that could see the country stage the continental tournament for the first time in more than 50 years.
The Ethiopian Football Federation confirmed the bid in a statement on Monday, saying the country had formally submitted its proposal to the Confederation of African Football (CAF).
Ethiopia last hosted the AFCON in 1976.
The country, which has a population of about 130 million, is home to the headquarters of the African Union in Addis Ababa.
However, Ethiopia’s bid faces potential challenges, including security concerns in parts of the country. Insurgencies have continued in Amhara and Oromia, while tensions involving the federal government and the northern Tigray region have also raised concerns over stability.
On the footballing front, Ethiopia are ranked 143rd among FIFA’s 211 member associations and have struggled to establish themselves among Africa’s top teams.
The national team last featured at the AFCON in 2022 but failed to progress beyond the group stage.
“Ethiopia has formally submitted its bid to CAF to host AFCON 2028,” the Ethiopian Football Federation said, adding that the move reaffirmed the country’s readiness to host Africa’s biggest football competition.
The 2028 tournament will mark a change in the competition’s calendar, with the AFCON moving to a four-year cycle to align with other major FIFA competitions.
Morocco hosted the most recent edition, while the next tournament is scheduled to be jointly hosted by Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania.
Meanwhile, Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso have also expressed interest in jointly hosting the 2032 edition of the tournament, despite ongoing security challenges in the three West African countries.
