Ethiopia has thrown its hat into the ring to host the 2028 Africa Cup of Nations, the Ethiopian Football Federation announced Monday. The country last staged the continental tournament in 1976 and previously hosted in 1962 the year it won its only AFCON title.
With a population of 130 million the second-largest in Africa—and Addis Ababa serving as the African Union headquarters, Ethiopia offers significant political and demographic weight. However, the bid faces formidable obstacles.
Ongoing insurgencies in Amhara and Oromia, the country’s two most populous states, alongside renewed civil war threats in the northern Tigray region, cast doubt over security and stability. Infrastructure readiness also remains an open question.
On the pitch, Ethiopia’s footballing pedigree has faded. The national team, ranked 143rd by FIFA, has qualified for only two AFCON tournaments this century 2013 and 2021 and exited the 2022 edition in the group stage.
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has yet to receive a formal host application, but Ethiopia’s bid adds momentum after the 2027 edition was awarded to Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania. For now, Addis Ababa’s ambition is clear but the road to 2028 is anything but certain.
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