Ethiopia targets 2028 return for Africa Cup of Nations hosting

Ethiopia has formally declared its interest in hosting the 2028 Africa Cup of Nations, with the country’s football federation confirming its bid on Monday.

The announcement marks a renewed attempt by Ethiopia to bring Africa’s leading international football tournament back to the country, 52 years after it last staged the competition.

Ethiopia had previously indicated that it wanted to host the 2029 edition of the Africa Cup of Nations. However, changes to the Confederation of African Football’s (CAF) planning for the tournament have led the Ethiopian authorities to revise that ambition.

The Africa Cup of Nations is now set to be played every four years rather than under the previous cycle, prompting Ethiopia to put forward its candidacy for the 2028 tournament instead.

If selected, Ethiopia would be hosting the finals for the fourth time. The country previously staged the Africa Cup of Nations in 1962, 1968 and 1976.

Ethiopia’s first hosting of the tournament ended with the national team lifting the trophy in 1962. That remains the country’s only Africa Cup of Nations title, with the victory making Ethiopia one of the early winners of the continental competition.

The 1968 and 1976 editions also took place in Ethiopia, but the country has since experienced a significant decline in its standing within African football. Its latest bid represents an effort to re-establish itself on the continental stage, both as a host nation and as a footballing country.

The announcement by the federation is the first formal step in the process. Ethiopia must now convince the decision-makers within CAF that its application meets the requirements to stage the tournament before the bid can be approved.

The country’s previous experience of hosting the finals will form part of its case as CAF considers the candidates for 2028. However, the final decision remains with the governing body’s relevant authorities.

Ethiopia’s interest in the 2028 competition follows a change in timing rather than a new ambition to host the Africa Cup of Nations. Its original intention was to seek the 2029 edition, but the revised four-year format has brought the proposed bid forward by one year.

With its formal declaration now made, Ethiopia joins the process of seeking approval to host the tournament. The country hopes that its history of staging the Africa Cup of Nations, including the 1962 triumph on home soil, will help persuade CAF to return the competition to Ethiopia after more than five decades.