Ethiopia Joins AFCON 2028 Race as Southern African Rivals Push Joint Bid
Ethiopia has officially entered the race to host the 2028 Africa Cup of Nations, setting up another intriguing contest for the right to stage the continent’s biggest national-team tournament.
The Ethiopian Football Federation (EFF) has submitted a government-backed bid, signalling the country’s ambition to bring AFCON back to Ethiopia for the first time since 1976.
Ethiopia has previously hosted the tournament on three occasions — 1962, 1968 and 1976 — and won the competition in 1962.
However, infrastructure could prove to be the biggest hurdle facing the bid.
Infrastructure the big question
At present, Bahir Dar Stadium is the country’s only venue approved by CAF, while a new stadium in Addis Ababa is expected to provide another potential option.
Ethiopia would nevertheless need to significantly improve its stadiums, training facilities, accommodation, transport infrastructure and other tournament requirements to convince CAF that it can successfully stage a 24-team AFCON.
The country’s recent experience has highlighted some of those challenges. Ethiopia was forced to play several of its 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers at neutral venues in Morocco and Rwanda because of stadium requirements, although some home matches were later played in Dire Dawa.
Security could also feature prominently in CAF’s assessment, given ongoing instability in parts of the country.
Southern Africa enters the race
Ethiopia’s announcement adds another contender to an increasingly competitive AFCON 2028 hosting race.
A joint Southern African bid involving South Africa, Botswana and Zimbabwe has also been put forward, with the three neighbours looking to combine their existing football infrastructure and experience to bring the tournament to the region.
CAF President Patrice Motsepe has previously indicated that the organisation has received strong interest in hosting future editions, including the 2028, 2032 and 2036 tournaments.
For Ethiopia, the bid represents an opportunity to revive its status as a major host of African football. But the EFF will need to demonstrate that the country’s infrastructure can match its ambition.
A historic bid with a major challenge
Ethiopia’s football history gives the proposal plenty of appeal. The country remains one of only a handful of African nations to have lifted the AFCON trophy, although its national team has struggled to maintain that status in recent decades.
The Walias have qualified for the AFCON only three times since their historic 1962 triumph, with their most recent appearance coming in 2021.
Now, Ethiopia wants to return to the continental spotlight — not just as a participant, but as host.
With Ethiopia and the South Africa-Botswana-Zimbabwe partnership among those chasing AFCON 2028, CAF faces an interesting decision between competing bids offering very different strengths, challenges and visions for the tournament.
