A photo of the AFCON trophy (M)
The Ethiopian Football Federation (EFF) has officially submitted a bid to host the 2028 Africa Cup of Nations, following recent changes to the tournament’s scheduling by the Confederation of African Football (CAF).
Ethiopia had originally planned to bid for the 2029 edition, but CAF’s decision in December 2025 to stage the Africa Cup of Nations every four years from 2028 prompted a strategic shift.
The federation has now redirected its focus to securing hosting rights for the 2028 tournament.
According to Ethiopian Broadcasting Corporation, EFF Secretary General Bahiru Tilahun confirmed that a formal bid has been sent, with strong backing from the Ethiopian government.
He noted that government guarantees form a key part of the submission, demonstrating Ethiopia’s commitment to meeting CAF’s strict hosting requirements.
Although Ethiopia currently does not have a CAF accredited stadium, significant infrastructure developments are underway.
Ethiopia is expected to face stiff competition in the bidding process. A joint bid from Botswana, Namibia and South Africa has been proposed, while Egypt has also been linked with hosting the tournament.
CAF is expected to outline the next steps of the bidding process in the coming months.
PAH/JE
