News
Quick Read
Ethiopia has officially entered the race to host the 2028 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), in a bid to bring the continent’s biggest football tournament back to the country for the first time in more than 50 years.
Ethiopia has officially entered the race to host the 2028 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), in a bid to bring the continent’s biggest football tournament back to the country for the first time in more than 50 years.
The Ethiopian Football Federation has submitted its hosting bid to the Confederation of African Football (CAF). Ethiopia last hosted the tournament in 1976.
The country, Africa’s second-most populous nation with about 130 million people, is also home to the African Union headquarters in its capital, Addis Ababa.
However, Ethiopia’s bid faces major challenges, particularly over security.
Ongoing insurgencies in the Amhara and Oromia regions, as well as concerns about a possible return of conflict in Tigray, could raise questions about the country’s ability to safely host the tournament.
Ethiopia also faces challenges on the football side. The country is currently ranked 143rd in the world and last qualified for the AFCON in 2022, when it was eliminated in the group stage.
Despite these concerns, the Ethiopian Football Federation says the country is ready to host the competition.
The 2028 tournament will also mark the beginning of a new four-year cycle for the AFCON. Ethiopia is therefore hoping to make a historic return as host of the continental competition after more than five decades.
