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Ethiopia has officially declared its interest in hosting the 2028 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), marking a determined bid to stage the continent's premier football tournament for the first time in more than five decades.
The Ethiopian Football Federation announced the submission of its bid to the Confederation of African Football (CAF) in a statement shared on X on Monday night. If successful, it would be the country's first time hosting the competition since 1976.
In its announcement, the federation expressed confidence in the nation's preparedness, stating that Ethiopia was fully ready to welcome Africa's biggest football spectacle and deliver a memorable tournament.
Ethiopia, home to about 130 million people, is Africa's second most populous nation. Its capital, Addis Ababa, also serves as the headquarters of the African Union (AU), giving the country a strategic place in continental affairs.
However, the bid comes amid significant challenges. Ethiopia continues to grapple with security concerns, including insurgencies in the Amhara and Oromia regions and fears of renewed conflict involving the northern Tigray area.
On the football front, the national team currently ranks 143rd in the FIFA world rankings and has struggled in recent AFCON campaigns, with its last appearance ending in a group-stage exit at the 2022 tournament.
The last AFCON finals were hosted by Morocco, while the 2027 edition will be jointly staged by Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania.
Beginning with the 2028 edition, the tournament is expected to adopt a four-year cycle, aligning its schedule more closely with other major FIFA competitions.
Meanwhile, Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso have also indicated their intention to jointly bid for the 2032 AFCON despite the security challenges facing the three Sahel nations.
