Ethiopia submits bid to host AFCON 2028 after Pamoja 2027 tournament

Ethiopia has submitted its official bid to host the 2028 Africa Cup of Nations, with the Ethiopian Football Federation presenting its bid handbook to CAF on Monday. The proposal has the backing of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia government.

The bid could keep AFCON in East Africa for a second successive edition. Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania will jointly stage Pamoja 2027 from June 19 to July 17, marking the region’s first hosting of the competition in more than 50 years.

Ethiopia has a long history with the tournament. A founding CAF member, it hosted the 1962 edition in Addis Ababa and won its only continental title by beating Egypt 4-2 after extra time in the final. The country also staged AFCON in 1968 and 1976, making it a three-time host. The 1976 tournament was the last edition held in East Africa before the 2027 award to the three-nation partnership.

Winning the 2028 rights would return AFCON to Ethiopia after 52 years. It would also extend a period of stadium, infrastructure and commercial development linked to major football events in the region, including the work already being driven by Pamoja 2027.

Ethiopia is competing against interest from other parts of the continent, including a proposed South Africa-Botswana joint bid. CAF opened the process to all 54 member associations in July for the 2028, 2032 and 2036 tournaments. The bidding framework was prepared with PwC and CAF’s technical, financial and legal advisers.

The 2028 decision follows CAF’s restructuring of AFCON, which will move away from its traditional two-year cycle after Pamoja 2027. Ethiopia’s submission now enters the assessment phase, where its stadiums, training grounds, transport connections, accommodation and wider facilities will be examined alongside the technical and financial strength of competing bids.