Ethiopia has officially submitted a government‑backed bid to host the 2028 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), the Ethiopian Football Federation (EFF) announced, even though the country had just one Confederation of African Football (CAF)‑approved stadium in use last season.
- Ethiopia has formally submitted a government‑backed bid to host AFCON 2028 to CAF.
- At the time of the bid the country had one CAF‑approved stadium (Bahir Dar); a large Addis Ababa stadium is under construction.
- Staging a 24‑team AFCON requires multiple CAF‑compliant venues, training facilities, accommodation, transport and robust security plans.
- Security concerns and unfinished stadium projects are the main obstacles the bid must address.
- CAF received several expressions of interest for 2028; Ethiopia will be assessed alongside other bidders.
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What Ethiopia has declared
The EFF said the proposal filed with CAF ‘‘reaffirms the nation’s full readiness to host Africa’s biggest footballing event,’’ according to media reports. If successful, the tournament would return to Ethiopia for the first time since it last staged AFCON in 1976.
Current infrastructure: the stadium picture
Independent reporting shows Ethiopia entered the CAF process with only one venue already approved for matches: the 52,000‑seat Bahir Dar Stadium. A new international complex in the capital, Adey Abeba International Stadium (reported capacity around 62,000), is under construction and expected to be completed next year, and could form part of any hosting plan.
Beyond those two sites, multiple proposed stadiums remain at early stages of development and would require substantial work to meet CAF and FIFA standards, according to the sources. Several existing regional facilities are also reported not to meet match‑day and infrastructure requirements.
Why the gap matters for a 24‑team AFCON
From 2025 AFCON onwards the finals expanded to 24 teams and CAF has indicated the competition will move to a four‑year cycle after 2028. A 24‑team finals typically needs at least six to eight compliant match venues across different cities for group and knockout scheduling, plus certified training grounds, warm‑up pitches and host‑city logistical capacity.
Reports underline that hosting the tournament would demand more than stadium construction: host cities must deliver training facilities and gyms, suitable accommodation for teams and officials, entertainment and media infrastructure, reliable urban transport and match‑day security arrangements. On those fronts, Ethiopia faces multiple shortfalls that would have to be addressed before CAF awards hosting rights.
Security and political context
Security considerations are a prominent part of the debate around Ethiopia’s bid. Sources note that while Addis Ababa is comparatively stable, parts of the country continue to experience armed conflict and political unrest. The Ethiopian national team has staged World Cup qualifying home matches at neutral venues in Morocco and Rwanda recently, though it did host matches in Dire Dawa this year.
Citizen reporting additionally highlights ongoing insurgencies in large regions including Amhara and Oromia, and continued tensions involving the northern Tigray region — factors CAF will consider alongside infrastructure when assessing a bid.
Where Ethiopia fits among other bidders
CAF president Patrice Motsepe has said the organisation received multiple bids for the 2028 edition. Publicly reported contenders include a joint southern African bid from Botswana, Namibia, South Africa and Zimbabwe. Media reporting indicates Morocco is not pursuing 2028 hosting, focusing instead on involvement in the 2030 World Cup.
Ethiopia’s submission places it on the list of hopefuls, but its candidacy contrasts with others that can already point to multiple compliant stadiums and recent large‑event hosting experience.
Footballing context and public reaction
Ethiopia was among the earliest participants in Afcon history, winning the tournament in 1962 and hosting in 1962, 1968 and 1976. However, the national team’s recent record is modest: the country is ranked 143rd globally and 43rd in Africa by FIFA in reporting, and has qualified for the finals only sporadically since the 1970s, with its latest appearance at the delayed 2021 edition.
Media coverage of the EFF announcement shows mixed reactions at home and abroad. Supporters point to Ethiopia’s population size, Addis Ababa’s status as the African Union headquarters and the potential legacy benefits of new sport infrastructure. Critics question whether the timeline, security and venue availability make a credible case for hosting a 24‑team AFCON in 2028.
What would need to happen next
- EFF and the Ethiopian government must present a detailed hosting plan to CAF that goes beyond a single new stadium: an itemised list of compliant match venues, certified training sites, accommodation and transport solutions, and concrete timelines for completion.
- Construction and refurbishment work on proposed stadiums would need acceleration, with early independent inspections proving they meet CAF/FIFA technical and safety standards.
- Authorities would need to provide convincing security assessments and contingency plans covering all proposed host cities and transit corridors.
- CAF will evaluate bids against competing offers and its own criteria; Ethiopia would need to demonstrate not only infrastructure delivery but operational capacity for staging a tournament at scale.
Implications if Ethiopia wins or loses the bid
If CAF selects Ethiopia, the decision would bring major investment and international focus to the country’s sporting infrastructure and could accelerate projects such as the Addis Ababa complex. That outcome would also require rapid mobilisation to deliver venues, services and secure operations across multiple regions.
If the bid is unsuccessful, the EFF’s submission may still be valuable politically and domestically as a way to prioritise stadium upgrades and build a long‑term national hosting strategy. Either path keeps Ethiopia visible in continental football conversations and may drive incremental improvements to facilities and event capability.
Timeline and what to watch
- EFF confirmed the formal bid submission in late August 2026.
- CAF has acknowledged receiving multiple expressions of interest for 2028, with an evaluation and selection process to follow; exact CAF deadlines and decision dates were not specified in the sources.
- Key milestones to monitor: independent CAF inspections of Ethiopian venues (if scheduled), progress on completion and certification of the Adey Abeba International Stadium, and any public security assessments tied to the bid.
“the 52,000‑seat Bahir Dar Stadium in the north of the country is currently the only facility it posseses which is approved by Caf”
What comes next is a practical test: can Ethiopia turn a formal expression of intent into a deliverable plan that satisfies CAF’s technical, logistical and safety requirements for a modern 24‑team AFCON? The answer will decide whether East Africa hosts the continental finals again in 2028 or whether another bidder wins the right to stage the tournament.