Prime Minister announces Ethiopia’s interest in bidding to host AFCON 2029

The Prime Minister of Ethiopia has announced that the country is interested in bidding to host the TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2029.

While speaking to the media in Addis Ababa, the Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed said they have what it takes to return the AFCON to Ethiopia. He emphasized that they only need to add a few more stadiums to be able to host the AFCON.

He said this at the climax of the Shenen Africa Fashion Festival Week which ended in Addis Ababa on Sunday. Former Nigerian international players Nwankwo Kanu and Daniel Amokachi, together with actors, social media influencers, designers, models, technology experts, business people and diplomats among others also attended the Festival.

In April this year the Ethiopian Minister of Culture and Sports, Kejela Merdasa also made it public about their ambitious plans to prepare the country to be able to bid and host either the AFCON 2029 or AFCON 2031. for this significant event, emphasizing the need for at least six standard stadiums to ensure its success.

Merdasa says although Ethiopia currently lacks stadiums that meet CAF’s requirements, forcing the national team to play its matches abroad, they are working on building more stadiums and renovating others that are already available.

Ethiopia has hosted the AFCON before in 1962, 1968 and 1976. Sudan hosted the first edition in 1957 and again in 1970.

Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania won the bid to host the AFCON 2027 which will mark the return of Africa’s biggest Football showpiece to the CECAFA Zone after so many years.