The Ethiopian Football Federation (EFF) has formally lodged a bid with the Confederation of African Football (CAF) to host the 2028 Africa Cup of Nations, marking a significant step in the country's ambitions to return to continental football's grandest stage.
The submission follows a deliberate shift in strategy: Ethiopian football officials and the government had originally set their sights on the 2029 edition before realigning their plans to fit CAF's newly adopted four-year tournament cycle.
Sovereign guarantee and infrastructure push
EFF Secretary General Bahiru Tilahun confirmed that the bid is accompanied by a full sovereign guarantee from the Ethiopian government — the strongest possible signal of national commitment to hosting the tournament for the first time in over fifty years.
Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has led an ambitious infrastructure drive anchored by the construction of the Adey Abeba Stadium in Addis Ababa. The government's broader plan calls for the development and upgrade of international-standard facilities in Addis Ababa, Bahir Dar, Dire Dawa, Hawassa, Jimma, and Mekele.
Beyond meeting CAF's hosting requirements, authorities say the building programme is designed to boost tourism and generate employment across the country.
Playing home games abroad
The bid arrives at a pressing moment for Ethiopian football. The national team has been compelled to stage so-called home matches in Morocco and Tanzania, owing to an absence of CAF-approved stadiums on home soil — a situation the infrastructure campaign is designed to resolve.
Heritage and competition
As a founding member of CAF, Ethiopia carries deep roots in the history of the Africa Cup of Nations, having hosted the tournament in 1962, 1968, and 1976. EFF President Isayas Jira Bosho cited that legacy as the foundation of the nation's ambition, pointing in particular to Ethiopia's triumph on home soil at the 1962 Africa Cup of Nations.
The road to winning the hosting rights will not be straightforward, however. Ethiopia is expected to face competition from established bidders including Egypt and South Africa.
Should the bid prove successful, it would open a remarkable era for East African football — coming just one year after the 2027 edition, which is set to be co-hosted by neighbouring Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania.
