Ethiopia has officially stepped forward in the race to host the 2028 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), submitting its formal bid to the Confederation of African Football (CAF) with the backing of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia (FDRE) government.
The Ethiopian Football Federation (EFF) says it has presented CAF with the official Bid Handbook covering the requirements for staging the continent’s biggest national-team football tournament, while reaffirming the country’s readiness to welcome Africa’s football elite.
The move has immediately added another layer of intrigue to the battle for the 2028 tournament, with Ethiopia seeking to bring AFCON back to its soil more than five decades after it last hosted the competition in 1976.
Ethiopia’s ambition offers an opportunity to reflect on an important question: why are some African countries increasingly positioning themselves to host major tournaments while others, despite their football history, appear less aggressive in pursuing the same opportunities?
Ethiopia is no stranger to the Africa Cup of Nations. The country hosted the tournament in 1962, 1968 and 1976, making it one of the historic nations to have staged the continental championship. More significantly, Ethiopia won its only AFCON title on home soil in 1962.
More than 50 years after its last hosting opportunity, the EFF is now attempting to bring the tournament back to the country.
The federation’s latest submission is not simply a footballing declaration. It represents an attempt to demonstrate to CAF that Ethiopia has the political commitment, institutional backing and infrastructure ambitions required to host a modern AFCON.
The EFF has emphasised that its Bid Handbook addresses CAF’s hosting requirements and that the bid has the backing of the Ethiopian government.
That government support could prove crucial.
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Hosting AFCON is no longer simply about having a football stadium. A modern tournament requires multiple venues, quality training facilities, accommodation, transportation systems, security arrangements, medical infrastructure, broadcasting facilities and reliable connectivity.
CAF’s hosting process has attracted bids involving Ethiopia, Morocco and a joint South Africa-Botswana proposal, making the contest potentially one of the more interesting hosting battles in recent African football history.
Morocco brings enormous recent experience in organising major football events, while South Africa possesses a mature sporting infrastructure and a long history of staging international competitions. Ethiopia, however, offers something different: history, geographical representation and the opportunity to take AFCON back to a country that played a foundational role in African football.
That could make the Ethiopian bid particularly significant for the broader development of football in East Africa.
A major tournament can stimulate tourism, hospitality, transportation, construction, telecommunications, media, retail and small businesses. It can also provide an opportunity to upgrade stadiums and training centres while creating employment for young people.
While the bid represents a major statement of ambition, the real challenge begins after the submission. CAF will ultimately have to assess whether Ethiopia can satisfy the technical and logistical demands of hosting the tournament.
Ethiopia’s football infrastructure has faced challenges, and reports earlier in the bidding process pointed to plans for significant stadium development as part of the country’s hosting ambitions.
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That means Ethiopia’s government and football federation will have to turn promises into tangible facilities. CAF will not only be looking at stadiums.
The ability to accommodate thousands of supporters, visiting teams, officials and international media will be critical. Efficient transport between venues and hotels will also be essential.
There will also be scrutiny of training grounds, pitches, floodlights, security, medical facilities, airport connectivity and communications infrastructure. In other words, Ethiopia’s bid has now moved from ambition to accountability.
For Ethiopia, hosting AFCON could provide an international platform to showcase Addis Ababa and the country’s rich historical and cultural heritage. It could also create an opportunity to strengthen Ethiopia’s position within African football diplomacy.
Countries are increasingly recognising that hosting major tournaments can accelerate infrastructure development, promote tourism and strengthen their international image. The battle for AFCON hosting rights is therefore becoming a contest of vision.
Ethiopia has now put its vision on the table.