Ethiopia has formally submitted its bid to host the Africa Cup of Nations in 2028, which would mark its first time staging the tournament in more than half a century.

The Ethiopian Football Federation confirmed the move in a post on X late on Monday.

The country last hosted the continental competition in 1976. With a population of around 130 million, Ethiopia is the second most populous nation in Africa. Its capital, Addis Ababa, serves as the headquarters of the African Union and sits at an altitude of 2,300 metres, the highest of any African capital.

The bid faces significant challenges, including ongoing insurgencies in the country’s two most populous states, Amhara and Oromia, as well as the risk of renewed conflict between the federal government and the northern Tigray region. Ethiopia’s national team currently ranks 143rd out of 211 in the FIFA rankings and last appeared at AFCON in 2022, when it exited at the group stage.

In its statement, the federation said the bid reaffirms the nation’s full readiness to host Africa’s biggest footballing event. The tournament was last held in Morocco, while the next edition will be co-hosted by Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania.

From 2028, AFCON will move to a four-year cycle to align with other major FIFA competitions. Meanwhile, Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso have also expressed interest in co-hosting the 2032 edition.

Photo credit: Ethiopian Football Federation