By Hauwa Gwandu

Ethiopia has officially entered the race to host the 2028 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), seeking to bring Africa’s biggest football tournament back to the country for the first time in more than five decades.

The Ethiopian Football Federation confirmed the bid in a post on X on Monday, declaring that the country is “fully ready” to host the continental showpiece.

Ethiopia last hosted the AFCON in 1976, meaning a successful bid would see the tournament return after a 52-year absence.

But Ethiopia’s ambitious bid comes against the backdrop of significant security and infrastructure challenges. Parts of the country, particularly the Amhara and Oromia regions, continue to face insurgencies and instability, while tensions between the federal government and forces in the northern Tigray region remain a concern.

Despite these challenges, Ethiopia brings considerable continental significance to the contest. The country is Africa’s second-most populous nation, with a population of about 130 million, while its capital, Addis Ababa, serves as the headquarters of the African Union and remains one of the continent’s key diplomatic and political hubs.

However, Ethiopia’s football fortunes have not matched its historical importance. The national team is currently ranked 143rd in the FIFA rankings and has made only limited appearances at recent AFCON tournaments. Its most recent appearance came in 2022, when the Walias were eliminated in the group stage.

The hosting bid would therefore represent an opportunity for Ethiopia not only to revive its football profile but also to accelerate investment in stadiums, transport, accommodation and other infrastructure required for a major continental tournament.

The 2028 AFCON is expected to mark a major shift in the competition’s scheduling, with the tournament moving from its traditional two-year cycle to a four-year format, bringing it closer to the schedule of other major international football competitions.

Morocco hosted the most recent edition, while Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania are set to jointly stage the next tournament.

Ethiopia’s bid now places the country among those seeking to secure the rights to host the 2028 edition, with the outcome likely to depend heavily on its ability to address concerns over security, facilities and tournament readiness.

Meanwhile, interest is already emerging for the 2032 AFCON, with Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso reportedly considering a joint bid despite persistent security challenges across the three West African countries.

For Ethiopia, however, the immediate ambition is clear: to end a 52-year wait and return the AFCON to the country that hosted one of the tournament’s earliest editions.