Ethiopia submits official bid to host Afcon 2028

What the report says

Ethiopia has formally entered the race to host the 2028 Africa Cup of Nations, according to BBC Africa, with its football federation saying the government-backed bid shows the country is ready to stage the continent’s biggest tournament. The submission comes as Caf prepares to choose future hosts after 2028, when Afcon is due to move to a four-year cycle.

The report says Ethiopia has hosted Afcon three times before, most recently in 1976, but its football infrastructure remains a major concern. At present, only one stadium in the country is understood to meet Caf approval, while a new international stadium and sports complex in Addis Ababa is still being developed. The article notes that Ethiopia would need several compliant venues to host a 24-team finals across multiple locations, along with training sites, accommodation, transport links and security arrangements.

BBC Africa also reports that there are questions about whether other proposed stadiums will be ready in time, and that security issues in parts of the country could complicate the bid. Ethiopia has still been active in international football, having played recent qualifiers and qualified for the 2025 Afcon group stage. The bid places it in competition with other potential hosts, including a joint southern African proposal involving Botswana, Namibia, South Africa and Zimbabwe.