Source: @Daily Sabah
Ethiopia is making a serious attempt to reclaim its place at the centre of African football after the Ethiopian Football Federation formally entered the race to host the 2028 Africa Cup of Nations. The country last staged the tournament in 1976, meaning a successful bid would restore AFCON to Ethiopian soil after 52 years.
CAF has decided that AFCON will move from its traditional two-year cycle to a four-year schedule from 2028, making the next edition the first of a new era for the competition. Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda will host the 2027 tournament, so Ethiopia’s bid could keep AFCON in East Africa for a second consecutive edition.
Ethiopian Football Federation Faces a Major Hosting Test
Ethiopia has plenty of credentials that make the proposal attractive. It is Africa’s second-most populous country, with roughly 130 million people, while Addis Ababa is home to the African Union headquarters and sits at an elevation of approximately 2,300 metres. Ethiopia also has deep AFCON heritage, having hosted the tournament three times and won its only continental title on home soil in 1962.
The difficulty lies in converting that history into a tournament-ready operation.
Infrastructure is arguably the biggest issue facing the Ethiopian Football Federation. Recent reporting indicates that Ethiopia does not currently have enough CAF-accredited venues capable of staging a 24-team AFCON, while the long-running construction of the Adey Abeba National Stadium remains a major part of the country’s infrastructure plans. Bahir Dar Stadium has received CAF Category 3 status, but further work is required before it could meet the demands of an AFCON tournament.
Security presents an equally serious consideration. Armed insurgencies remain active in Amhara and Oromia, while tensions surrounding Tigray continue to create concerns about stability. For CAF, the question will extend beyond individual match venues to transport, accommodation, training bases and the ability to guarantee safe movement for teams and supporters across the country.
Ethiopia’s footballing strength also gives CAF plenty to consider. The national side sits 143rd in the latest FIFA men’s ranking and has not reached AFCON since its group-stage exit at the 2022 tournament.
That, however, should not be confused with the merits of the hosting proposal. AFCON hosts are judged on their ability to stage a major international event, not on the ranking of the home team.
Ethiopia therefore has a potentially compelling story, but its bid will be judged on delivery rather than history. The country’s football heritage, huge population and strategic location provide a strong foundation. The decisive questions will be whether the stadium programme can meet CAF standards and whether security guarantees can withstand scrutiny.
With CAF seeking hosts for the first AFCON of its new four-year era, Ethiopia has chosen an ambitious moment to make its case. The bid now has to prove that the country can turn that ambition into a tournament capable of meeting modern African football’s demanding standards.
