The country is seeking to stage Africa’s biggest football tournament for the first time since 1976 as it looks to revive its place on the continental football stage.

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia (Running Africa) — Ethiopia has formally submitted a bid to host the 2028 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), seeking to bring Africa’s biggest football tournament back to the country more than five decades after it last staged the competition.

Ethiopia previously hosted AFCON in 1976, when the national team also won the continental title. A successful 2028 bid would mark a major return to the African football spotlight for one of the tournament’s historic nations.

Beyond football, Ethiopian authorities are expected to position the bid as an opportunity to promote the country’s culture, tourism, and infrastructure, while Addis Ababa’s status as the headquarters of the African Union could add broader continental significance to its campaign.

However, questions over security, infrastructure, and the national team’s recent struggles could become important factors as the bidding process develops.

Ethiopia Formally Bids to Host AFCON 2028

Ethiopia’s submission puts the country in contention to stage the 2028 Africa Cup of Nations, a tournament that will carry added significance for the future of African international football.

For Ethiopia, hosting AFCON would represent a return to a competition with which the country has a deep historical connection.

Ethiopia was among the founding members of African international football and has previously hosted the continental championship.

Securing the 2028 tournament would therefore provide an opportunity to reconnect that history with the country’s ambitions for modern sports development.

Ethiopia last hosted the Africa Cup of Nations in 1976

It has been more than half a century since Ethiopia last welcomed Africa’s leading national teams.

The country hosted the 1976 Africa Cup of Nations, an edition that ended with Ethiopia lifting the trophy on home soil.

Since then, the center of African football has increasingly shifted towards countries with larger modern stadiums, transport networks, and commercial infrastructure capable of supporting an expanded continental tournament.

Hosting AFCON 2028 would require Ethiopia to demonstrate that it can provide the stadiums, training facilities, accommodation, transport, and security needed for teams and supporters.

Addis Ababa Could Give Ethiopia a bid continental significance

Ethiopia is home to roughly 130 million people, making it one of Africa’s most populous countries and potentially offering organizers a substantial domestic audience.

Its capital, Addis Ababa, is also the headquarters of the African Union, giving the city a unique position in continental diplomacy.

That status could strengthen the symbolism surrounding Ethiopia’s bid, particularly as the country seeks to present itself as a destination capable of hosting one of Africa’s largest sporting events.

A successful tournament could also provide opportunities to promote Ethiopian tourism and attract investment into sporting and transport infrastructure.

Security Concerns Could Challenge Ethiopia’s AFCON Bid

Security is likely to be one of the most closely examined aspects of Ethiopia’s candidacy.

The country continues to face armed insurgencies and instability in parts of Amhara and Oromia, while concerns remain about the possibility of renewed conflict in Tigray.

Any host nation would need to demonstrate that players, officials, and traveling supporters can move safely between tournament venues.

The security situation could therefore become a significant factor as African football authorities assess Ethiopia’s ability to stage the competition.

Ethiopia National Team Seeks Return to the African Football Stage

Ethiopia’s bid comes at a time when its national team is attempting to rebuild its standing in African football.

The country is currently ranked 143rd in the world and last competed at AFCON in 2022, when it was eliminated during the group stage.

Those results contrast sharply with Ethiopia’s historic status within African football.

Hosting the tournament could provide fresh momentum for domestic football development and generate renewed interest in the national team.

AFCON 2028 Set to Begin New Four-Year Cycle

The 2028 Africa Cup of Nations will carry additional significance as the tournament moves into a new four-year cycle.

That change could make hosting rights increasingly valuable, with each edition becoming a less frequent opportunity for countries to stage the continent’s premier national-team competition.

For Ethiopia, winning the bid would bring AFCON back more than 50 years after it last hosted the tournament and provide a major platform to showcase the country to Africa and the wider world.

The bid now faces the larger test of demonstrating that Ethiopia can match its historic football credentials with the infrastructure, organization and security required to host AFCON 2028.