Ethiopia Bids to Host AFCON 2028 for First Time in 52 Years

Ethiopia Bids to Host AFCON 2028 for First Time in 52 Years

Ethiopia has officially submitted a bid to host the Africa Cup of Nations in 2028. It would be the country’s first time staging the tournament in more than half a century.

The Ethiopian Football Federation confirmed the bid on Monday, stating the country is fully prepared to host Africa’s biggest football event

Ethiopia last hosted AFCON in 1976. With a population of around 130 million, it is the second most populous country in Africa. Its capital, Addis Ababa, is the headquarters of the African Union and sits at 2,300 meters altitude — the highest of any African capital.

The bid, however, faces questions over security and infrastructure, given ongoing unrest in parts of the country.

The 2027 tournament will be co-hosted by Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania. Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso have also expressed interest in co-hosting the 2032 edition.