Ethiopia has formally entered the race to host the 2028 Africa Cup of Nations, with the Ethiopian Football Federation (EFF) confirming that it has submitted its official hosting bid to the Confederation of African Football (CAF).
The EFF said it had presented its Bid Handbook to CAF, with the proposal receiving backing from the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia government.
“Ethiopia has formally submitted its bid to CAF to host AFCON 2028,” the federation said.
The EFF added that the Bid Handbook addresses CAF’s hosting requirements and demonstrates the country’s readiness to stage the continent’s premier national-team competition.
Ethiopia seeks second AFCON hosting opportunity
The submission represents a major step in Ethiopia’s attempt to bring AFCON back to the country.
Ethiopia previously hosted the tournament in 1962, when it also won the competition on home soil. A successful 2028 bid would therefore see the country host the continental championship for the first time in more than 60 years.
Ethiopia was also among the founding members of CAF, giving the country a significant historical connection to African football.
CAF to assess bids
With Ethiopia’s documentation now formally submitted, the bid will go through CAF’s evaluation process alongside proposals from other interested countries.
The EFF says the government’s backing demonstrates its commitment to the project, while the federation will now look to convince CAF that Ethiopia can meet the infrastructure, organisational and logistical requirements needed to host the expanded continental tournament.
For Ethiopia, the bid represents both a sporting ambition and an opportunity to showcase the country on one of Africa’s biggest football stages.
