Ethiopia’s AFCON 2028 bid, explained

Ethiopia is officially in the race to host the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in 2028, potentially bringing the continent’s biggest football tournament back to the country for the first time in more than 50 years. The Ethiopian Football Federation (EFF) has formally submitted its government-backed bid to CAF, asserting that the nation is “fully ready” to host Africa’s biggest footballing event.

However, the reality of Ethiopia’s infrastructure poses significant challenges. The nation had just one CAF-approved stadium last season, and many regional grounds are understood not to meet basic match-day standards. The EFF’s official submission emphasizes the importance of both logistics and symbolism, highlighting Ethiopia’s historical role as a founding host of AFCON.

What Ethiopia has put on the table

The EFF’s official submission affirms “the nation’s full readiness to host Africa’s biggest footballing event.” Ethiopia is Africa’s second-most populous nation, and Addis Ababa houses the African Union, which adds to the bid’s significance. The country has previously staged the tournament in 1962, 1968, and 1976, winning the trophy on home soil in 1962.

Yet, readiness will ultimately be judged by infrastructure and security. The federation points to the new 62,000-capacity Adey Abeba International Stadium and sports complex in Addis Ababa, expected to be completed next year, which could anchor the bid. The pressing question remains whether enough other venues can be upgraded to meet CAF standards in time for a multi-city event.

The stadium map as it stands

Currently, the approved inventory is thin. Bahir Dar Stadium, a 52,000-seat venue in the north, was the only facility CAF cleared for use last season. Ethiopia even shifted home fixtures in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers to neutral venues in Morocco and Rwanda, underlining the tight compliance picture, although the national team did host matches in Dire Dawa earlier this year.

The capital’s new Adey Abeba International Stadium could provide a compliant flagship and fan hub if it is finished as planned. However, the bid faces a race against time, as several existing regional facilities are understood not to meet FIFA or CAF standards in terms of infrastructure, facilities, and match-day operations. Three other proposed stadiums are at early stages of development and would require significant work to be ready for 2028.

What CAF will look for in 2028

A 24-team AFCON demands more than a handful of large arenas. CAF will assess whether Ethiopia can deliver multiple compliant stadiums across several locations, plus a supporting ecosystem that includes training pitches, gyms, accommodation, entertainment venues, reliable urban transport, and robust security operations. These elements are explicitly outlined in CAF’s checklist.

Security is the most sensitive variable in this equation. While Addis Ababa is comparatively safe, ongoing insurgencies in Amhara and Oromia, along with fears of renewed conflict in Tigray, raise major security concerns. CAF will require credible guarantees and operational plans ensuring that tournament teams, officials, and fans can move safely between cities, that venues are protected, and that contingencies exist for incidents away from the capital.

The rivals and the calendar Ethiopia must navigate

Ethiopia is not bidding in isolation. Botswana, Namibia, South Africa, and Zimbabwe have announced a joint Southern African bid for the 2028 finals. Although there were reports suggesting Morocco might serve as a fallback host two years after 2025, it has been confirmed that the kingdom is not in the running and is instead focused on co-hosting the 2030 FIFA World Cup.

CAF’s wider calendar also plays a crucial role. The 2027 AFCON is scheduled for Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda from 19 June to 17 July next year, marking the competition’s return to East Africa for the first time since Ethiopia hosted it in 1976. From 2028 onward, AFCON is set to move to a four-year cycle, increasing the stakes for each bid as the successful country will host the tournament that bridges the old cycle and the new.

The weight of history and the current footballing baseline

Ethiopia holds a foundational place in AFCON history, having staged the tournament three times and won it in 1962. However, the competitive baseline for the national team, the Walia Ibex, is modest by recent standards. They are currently ranked 143rd in the world and 43rd in Africa, having qualified for AFCON only three times since their last hosting.

Their most recent appearance came at the delayed 2021 edition, where they finished bottom of their group without a win against Cameroon, Burkina Faso, and Cape Verde. Hosting AFCON would not instantly change their rankings, but it could catalyze infrastructure improvements, planning, and talent development if aligned with long-term domestic needs.

Security: the decisive test beyond bricks and mortar

CAF’s site visits and government guarantees will scrutinize the security situation as closely as the infrastructure developments. Ongoing insurgencies in Amhara and Oromia, along with fears of renewed conflict in Tigray, must be addressed. The federation and state will need to demonstrate not only event-day perimeter security but also safe inter-city travel, hotel protection, and clear command chains coordinating police, military, and private stewards.

This aspect of Ethiopia’s bid will likely draw the sharpest scrutiny. The infrastructure piece involves engineering and budget, while the security piece is about risk management amid live variables. CAF has accepted co-hosting models and concentrated-city formats before, but sources indicate that meeting the infrastructure and security requirements is critical for a successful 2028 hosting.

What success would change on the ground

If CAF green-lights the bid, the build-out would extend beyond stadiums. There is a clear need for gyms, training facilities, accommodation, and entertainment venues, along with reliable urban transport. Such tournament-driven work can seed lasting training hubs, better travel links, and upgraded hotels that benefit league football and youth development long after the closing ceremony.

However, this would also compress timelines and budgets. The three proposed stadiums are at early stages and would require significant work to be ready. Critics already question whether the country is truly prepared to host an event of this scale; a winning bid would turn those questions into delivery milestones.

What comes next on the pitch and off it

Off the pitch, the process now moves to CAF, which will evaluate Ethiopia’s bid against the Southern African joint proposal, security assessments, and the readiness of venues and city infrastructure. CAF President Patrice Motsepe has welcomed the volume of interest, but the decisive factor will be demonstrable compliance rather than mere declarations of intent.

While the results of this evaluation will not solely determine the 2028 hosting race, any positive developments would build momentum around a country striving to align its competitive fortunes with an ambitious, historically resonant bid.