Ethiopia is hoping to bring the Africa Cup of Nations back to the country after more than five decades, following the submission of its official bid to host the 2028 tournament.
The Ethiopian Football Federation has formally presented its bid to the Confederation of African Football (CAF). Ethiopia last hosted the continental championship in 1976.
The country, which has a population of about 130 million, is home to the African Union headquarters in Addis Ababa. However, its hosting ambitions come with several challenges, particularly security concerns.
Ongoing insurgencies in Amhara and Oromia, as well as fears of renewed conflict in Tigray, could become major factors in the bidding process.
Ethiopia also faces challenges on the football pitch. The national team is ranked 143rd in the world and last appeared at AFCON in 2022, when it was eliminated in the group stage.
Despite these concerns, the Ethiopian Football Federation remains confident that the country can successfully stage Africa’s biggest football tournament.
With AFCON set to move to a four-year cycle from 2028, Ethiopia is hoping to make a historic return to the continental spotlight.#newsafro_
