Ethiopia, Morocco, and South Africa-Botswana Compete for 2028 AFCON Hosting Rights
The competition to host the 2028 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) is intensifying as three nations submit their bids to the Confederation of African Football (CAF): Ethiopia, Morocco, and a collaborative proposal from South Africa and Botswana. This upcoming tournament is significant for Ethiopia, as it aims to host the prestigious continental event for the first time since 1976. The nation has previously held the tournament three times, with its last hosting in 1976, and is currently investing in sports infrastructure to bolster its bid.
However, Ethiopia's proposal might face scrutiny regarding the number of CAF-approved stadiums available. In the previous season, only one stadium met the CAF standards, although construction is underway for a new international stadium and sports complex in Addis Ababa to enhance their hosting capabilities.
Morocco, which successfully hosted the latest AFCON, presents a formidable challenge with its modern facilities, excellent transport infrastructure, and extensive experience in managing large-scale international sporting events, positioning it as a strong contender for the 2028 tournament.
Meanwhile, the joint bid from South Africa and Botswana signifies an exciting partnership, with South Africa having previously hosted the AFCON twice—in 1996 and 2013. If successful, this would mark Botswana's inaugural experience in hosting the tournament.
The 2028 edition will also be notable as it will be the first AFCON held under CAF's newly established four-year tournament cycle, following the 2027 tournament, which will be co-hosted by Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda. Additionally, looking beyond 2028, Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger have already put forth a joint bid to host the 2032 edition, with CAF also soliciting proposals for the 2036 tournament. CAF will evaluate these bids before announcing the host or co-hosts for the 2028 AFCON in due course.
As reported by newtimes.co.rw.
