Ethiopia submits bid to host 2028 AFCON

Ethiopia has formally submitted a bid to host the 2028 Africa Cup of Nations, the Ethiopian Football Federation said in a post on X late Monday, August 24.

If chosen, Ethiopia would stage AFCON for the first time since 1976. The federation said the bid showed the country’s readiness to host the tournament.

The bid comes as Ethiopia faces security problems, including insurgencies in Amhara and Oromia and threats of renewed conflict between the federal government and the northern Tigray region.

Ethiopia has about 130 million people, the second-largest population in Africa. Its national team is ranked 143rd of 211 by FIFA and last played at AFCON in 2022, when it was eliminated in the group stage.

AFCON was last hosted by Morocco. The next tournament is due to be co-hosted by Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania. From 2028, the competition is due to move to a four-year schedule to align with other FIFA competitions.