Ethiopia formally submits bid to host 2028 Africa Cup of Nations

Ethiopia has formally submitted its bid to host the 2028 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), officially entering the race to stage one of African football’s biggest tournaments.

The Ethiopian Football Federation (EFF) confirmed that it had submitted all the required documentation to the Confederation of African Football (CAF) as part of the country’s hosting bid.

In a statement, the EFF said the bid had received the backing of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia (FDRE) government, with the federation presenting its official Bid Handbook to CAF.

“Ethiopia has formally submitted its bid to CAF to host AFCON 2028,” the federation said.

“Backed by the FDRE government, the EFF presented the official Bid Handbook addressing all requirements and reaffirming the nation’s full readiness to host Africa’s biggest footballing event.”

The submission marks a significant step in Ethiopia’s ambition to bring the continent’s premier national team competition to the country.

The EFF’s statement indicated that the bid addresses the requirements set by CAF and underlined the government’s commitment to supporting the hosting project.

With the documents now formally submitted, Ethiopia’s bid is officially on the table as CAF considers the potential hosts for the 2028 tournament.

The country has a long footballing history and was one of the founding members of CAF. Ethiopia also hosted the Africa Cup of Nations in 1962, when the national team won the tournament on home soil.

A successful bid would therefore give Ethiopia an opportunity to stage the continental championship for the first time in more than six decades.

The hosting process is expected to involve an assessment of the submitted bids against CAF’s requirements before a final decision is made.

For Ethiopia, the latest development represents the beginning of a potentially significant campaign to secure the right to host AFCON 2028, with the government and football federation now seeking to convince CAF that the country is ready to stage the tournament.