Ethiopia formally bids to host 2028 Africa Cup of Nations | OneFootball

Ethiopia has formally submitted a bid to host the 2028 Africa Cup of Nations, its first attempt to stage the tournament since 1976. The Ethiopian federation announced the filing on Monday evening, saying the bid meets all requirements and that the country is ready to host Africa’s biggest football event.

Ethiopia had signalled earlier this year that it intended to pursue the 2028 edition, but until now it had not lodged an official dossier.

The country has been the scene of several armed conflicts. Armed groups are confronting federal forces in Amhara and Oromia, and rising tensions in Tigray pose the risk of a new war after the 2020-2022 conflict that left 600,000 dead.

The Horn of Africa nation, the continent’s second most populous with 130 million people, is 143rd out of 211 in the FIFA rankings. Its last Africa Cup of Nations appearance came in 2021 in Cameroon, where it exited at the group stage.

The last Africa Cup of Nations took place this winter in Morocco. The 2027 tournament will be co-hosted by Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania, and from 2028 the event will be held every four years to align with FIFA competitions.

Source: L'Équipe

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