CAF officials arrive in Ethiopia to assess 2028 AFCON hosting bid

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has sent an evaluation team to Addis Ababa to assess Ethiopia’s bid to host the 2028 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).

The team will examine the country’s hosting plans and inspect stadiums across four cities as Ethiopia intensifies efforts to bring Africa’s biggest football tournament back to the country.

Among the areas earmarked for inspection are Adey Abeba and Akaki Kality in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa, as CAF begins its assessment of the facilities and infrastructure proposed for the tournament.

The evaluation is expected to provide an important indication of Ethiopia’s readiness to stage the continental showpiece, with stadium facilities and wider hosting arrangements likely to be central to the assessment.

Ethiopia’s bid represents an opportunity for the country to re-establish itself as a major destination for African football, building on its historical connection with the competition.

The country has a significant place in AFCON history, having hosted the tournament in 1962, when the national team, known as the Walia Ibex, won its first and only continental title.

More than six decades later, Ethiopia is seeking to bring the competition back, with the latest inspection marking a key stage in its preparations.

Hosting AFCON would require substantial logistical planning, including suitable stadiums, training facilities, accommodation, transport infrastructure and security arrangements to meet CAF’s requirements.

The tournament has grown considerably in scale over the years, increasing the demands on prospective host nations to provide facilities capable of accommodating participating teams, officials, supporters and international media.

CAF’s evaluation process will therefore be crucial in determining whether Ethiopia’s proposed venues and supporting infrastructure meet the standards required to host the competition.

The inspection of facilities in four cities also underlines the scale of the country’s ambitions, as organisers seek to demonstrate that the tournament can be staged successfully beyond a single urban centre.

Ethiopia’s bid comes as African nations continue to compete for the opportunity to host the continent’s premier international football competition, which offers significant sporting, commercial and tourism opportunities.

A successful bid could provide a major boost to Ethiopian football, while also creating opportunities to improve sporting infrastructure and attract investment into the country.

However, the arrival of the evaluation team does not guarantee that Ethiopia will be awarded hosting rights. CAF’s assessment of the proposed facilities and overall preparations will be an important part of the process before a final decision is made.

For now, Ethiopia will be hoping to convince the continental governing body that it has the infrastructure, organisation and ambition required to stage the 2028 AFCON.