Ethiopia submits official bid to host Afcon 2028, but can the Walia Ibex's homeland meet the standard?

A Bold Declaration from Addis Ababa

Ethiopia has officially entered the race to host the 2028 Africa Cup of Nations, submitting a government-backed bid that its football federation says affirms "the nation's full readiness to host Africa's biggest footballing event." The announcement, made public on 25 August 2026, marks a significant moment for a country that once stood as a pioneer of African football but has since watched its infrastructure and fortunes fade against the continent's modern giants.

The Ethiopian Football Federation (EFF) has pitched its proposal to the Confederation of African Football (Caf) with the full weight of the state behind it. For a nation that last hosted the tournament in 1976, this is more than a sporting ambition—it is a statement of national pride and a desire to reclaim a place at the heart of the African game. Yet, as the dust settles on the announcement, the hard questions are already emerging from the stands and the streets of Addis Ababa: does Ethiopia truly have the stadiums, the security, and the organisational depth to welcome 24 teams and millions of fans?

The bid arrives at a time of transition for the continent's premier football competition. Caf president Patrice Motsepe confirmed last month that his organisation had received "exciting bids" for the 2028, 2032, and 2036 editions, with the tournament set to shift to a four-year cycle after 2028. Ethiopia is not alone in this race—a joint Southern African bid from Botswana, Namibia, South Africa, and Zimbabwe is already on the table—but the Ethiopian proposal carries a unique historical weight that no other candidate can match.

A Legacy of Glory, A Reality of Gaps

Ethiopia's footballing pedigree is written into the very fabric of the Africa Cup of Nations. The nation was one of just three countries to play at the inaugural tournament in 1957, and it lifted the trophy on home soil in 1962, a triumph that remains a golden memory for generations of supporters. The 1968 and 1976 editions also took place on Ethiopian soil, cementing the country's status as a founding pillar of the competition.

But that legacy stands in stark contrast to the present reality. The Walia Ibex, ranked 143rd in the world and 43rd in Africa, have qualified for the tournament only three times since they last hosted. Their most recent appearance, at the 2021 edition in Cameroon, ended in disappointment as they finished bottom of their group without a single win against Cameroon, Burkina Faso, and Cape Verde. The national team's struggles on the pitch mirror the challenges facing the country's football infrastructure off it.

According to analysis from BBC Africa's Kaleb Moges, Ethiopia currently possesses just one stadium approved for use by Caf: the 52,000-seat Bahir Dar Stadium in the north of the country. That single venue is a far cry from what is required to host a 24-team Afcon across multiple locations. The 62,000-capacity Adey Abeba International Stadium in Addis Ababa is expected to be completed next year and could provide a second compliant venue, but three other proposed stadiums remain at much earlier stages of development and would require significant work to meet Caf's requirements in time for 2028.

The Infrastructure Mountain

Hosting an Africa Cup of Nations is not merely about erecting stands and laying turf. The tournament demands a complete ecosystem of supporting infrastructure: training facilities that meet international standards, gyms, accommodation for teams and officials, entertainment venues for fans, and reliable urban transport networks. Ethiopia's current reality falls short on several of these fronts.

The nation's existing regional facilities are understood not to meet Fifa or Caf standards in terms of infrastructure, facilities, and overall match-day requirements. This is not a new problem. Ethiopia played its home qualifiers for the 2026 Fifa World Cup at neutral venues in Morocco and Rwanda, a telling indicator of the current state of its stadiums. The country did manage to host matches in Dire Dawa earlier this year, offering a glimmer of hope, but the gap between what exists and what is needed remains vast.

The EFF's bid document will need to convince Caf that the construction timelines are realistic. The Adey Abeba International Stadium is the centrepiece of the proposal, but one new venue, even a 62,000-seat showpiece, cannot carry a tournament alone. Caf will demand assurances that multiple cities can host matches with the full range of facilities that players, officials, and fans have come to expect at modern Afcon editions.

Security and Stability: The Unspoken Challenge

Beyond the bricks and mortar, there is a deeper concern that hangs over Ethiopia's bid: security. While the capital city of Addis Ababa is comparatively safe and has hosted numerous international conferences and events, several parts of the country continue to experience armed conflict, political unrest, and other security challenges. These are not abstract worries—they are lived realities that would shape the decision-making of Caf officials and the willingness of foreign fans to travel.

Addressing these concerns would be critical if Ethiopia is to successfully host Afcon 2028. The tournament would require not just secure stadiums but safe transport corridors between host cities, reliable policing, and the capacity to manage large crowds in a volatile regional environment. The Ethiopian government has shown it can mobilise security for major events, but the scale of an Afcon, with matches spread across multiple locations over several weeks, presents a far greater challenge than a single summit or celebration.

The mixed reactions to the EFF's announcement, as reported by BBC Africa, reflect this uncertainty. Critics are questioning whether the country is truly prepared to host a tournament of this scale, and their doubts are not unfounded. The gap between ambition and capacity is a recurring theme in African football, and Ethiopia's bid will be scrutinised with particular care given the stakes involved.

The Continental Chessboard

Ethiopia's bid enters a crowded and complex field. The joint Southern African bid from Botswana, Namibia, South Africa, and Zimbabwe offers a compelling alternative, bringing together established football nations with proven infrastructure. South Africa, in particular, has a track record of hosting major events, including the 2010 Fifa World Cup and the 2013 Afcon.

Despite reports that Morocco—hosts of the 2025 edition—could stage the tournament again in two years' time, BBC Sport Africa understands the kingdom is not in the running. Instead, Morocco is focusing its energies on preparations to co-host the 2030 Fifa World Cup, a decision that opens the door for other candidates in 2028. Meanwhile, Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger, three countries led by military governments, have expressed interest in co-hosting the 2032 edition, adding another layer of intrigue to the continental chessboard.

The 2027 Afcon is scheduled to take place in Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda from 19 June to 17 July next year, with the competition returning to East Africa for the first time since it was held in Ethiopia in 1976. That tournament will be a proving ground for the region's capacity to host major football events, and its success or failure will inevitably influence perceptions of Ethiopia's 2028 bid.

A Nation's Hope, A Team's Journey

For Ethiopian football fans, the bid represents more than a logistical exercise—it is a dream of seeing the Walia Ibex compete on home soil once again. The national team is currently navigating the qualifiers for next year's Afcon, having beaten Sao Tome and Principe in the preliminary round. They have been drawn alongside Senegal, Mozambique, and Sudan in Group J, a challenging but not insurmountable group that offers a path to the 2027 finals.

The connection between the team's performance and the bid's credibility is not lost on the EFF. A strong showing in the 2027 tournament, hosted by their East African neighbours, would bolster Ethiopia's case for 2028. Conversely, another early exit would fuel the narrative that the country is not ready for the continental stage.

Ethiopia's footballing journey is one of resilience and pride. From the glory of 1962 to the struggles of recent decades, the nation has never stopped believing in its place at the heart of African football. The bid to host Afcon 2028 is the latest chapter in that story, a bold declaration that Ethiopia is ready to rise again. Whether the stadiums, the security, and the organisation can match that ambition is the question that will define the coming months.

As Caf deliberates over the bids, the people of Ethiopia will be watching with hope and trepidation. The Africa Cup of Nations has always been more than a football tournament—it is a celebration of the continent's spirit, resilience, and unity. Ethiopia, the land where the competition's early history was written, now dreams of writing a new chapter. The world will be watching to see if that dream can become reality.

By Amara Diop, Staff Writer

This article was produced with AI-assisted research and editorial support. Sources: BBC Sport Africa.