Ethiopia has officially entered the race to host the 2028 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) after the Confederation of African Football (CAF) opened the bidding process for interested countries, Nigeriasoccernet.com reports.
CAF recently invited fresh bids following an adjustment to the tournament’s scheduling, a move that has reignited interest from several football federations across the continent. Ethiopia’s decision to submit a bid marks a significant step for the East African nation, as it seeks to bring Africa’s biggest football competition back to the Horn of Africa.
The race for hosting rights is already shaping up to be competitive. Southern Africa is also firmly in contention, with South Africa submitting a joint bid alongside Botswana and Lesotho in a proposed co-hosting arrangement.
CAF is expected to carefully review all bids submitted before announcing a shortlist of candidate hosts. The final decision will be made after a comprehensive inspection and evaluation process, during which infrastructure, facilities, and organisational capacity will be assessed.
The announcement of the 2028 AFCON host nation(s) is anticipated in the coming months as CAF continues its consultations and assessments.