African media reports indicated that the Ethiopian Football Federation has formally submitted a bid to host the 2028 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), as the Confederation of African Football (CAF) prepares for the tournament under its new four-year cycle.
According to African Football, a media outlet specializing in African football coverage, Ethiopia has entered the race to stage the continent’s flagship tournament.
The report noted that another country has also officially joined the bidding process, intensifying competition ahead of CAF’s submission deadline.
The network added that Ethiopia’s bid is considered ambitious, with the country pledging to construct six new stadiums despite acknowledged shortcomings in its current sports infrastructure.
In contrast, a joint bid involving Botswana, Namibia, and South Africa has raised questions over the trio’s organizational readiness, according to the same source.
CAF is still searching for a confirmed host for the 2028 edition.
While the 2027 AFCON was awarded jointly to Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania, the 2028 tournament remains without an official host, fueling concerns over CAF’s ability to secure a suitable organizer in time.
French outlet Foot Mercato reported that these concerns have been exacerbated by organizational issues surrounding the 2025 AFCON final, which reportedly tarnished the competition’s image.
The report described the 2028 edition as still “without an officially designated host nation.”
Algeria, meanwhile, has withdrawn its bid after previously pulling out of hosting the 2025 and 2027 tournaments just days before official announcements.
Amid the uncertainty, Egypt is reportedly considering submitting an official bid, drawing on its experience of hosting AFCON 2019 at short notice after Cameroon was stripped of the tournament.
Angola, the host of the 2010 edition, has also expressed interest.
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