Just as the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) wraps up, another huge challenge looms for the Confederation of African Football (CAF): the 2028 AFCON, for which a host has yet to be chosen, despite the competition being announced at the end of December. This is a worrying situation, especially since the requirements are hefty and time is running out.
On paper, several options exist to host this edition of AFCON, the last before the tournament shifts to a four-year cycle.
Few serious candidates for AFCON 2028
Egypt, despite having the experience and necessary infrastructure, doesn’t seem keen to step up as a last resort host again, like it did in 2019. Algeria, while strong in sports and structure, faces political hurdles. South Africa, often mentioned as a favorite, is currently navigating a tough economic period, and its real willingness to host the tournament remains unclear. Without South Africa, the recently suggested co-hosting bid from Botswana, Namibia, and South Africa would be compromised due to infrastructure disparities.
Ethiopian option: a promising yet uncertain bid
Among the official bids, Ethiopia stands out. The country is experiencing rapid economic growth, building Africa’s largest airport, and boasts 128 million football-loving residents. Plus, it has about ten stadiums with over 15,000 seats. However, a major issue remains: none of these stadiums are currently certified by CAF. The necessary upgrades would be substantial, costly, and unrealistic to complete in under three years.
Morocco: lingering doubts
As for Morocco, which brilliantly hosted AFCON 2025, CAF has high hopes for it in 2028. However, doubts have crept in, especially after the tense final between Senegal and Morocco, which tarnished the event’s image. The chaotic end of the tournament affected the host nation’s enthusiasm, as investigative journalist Romain Molina reports. According to him, despite official statements claiming that AFCON 2028 will be awarded to Morocco, the country seems less enthusiastic than before:
“They tell you up top that it will be for Morocco, but Lekjaa said, ‘Why would we host this?’ An AFCON brings in a lot of money for CAF, but it costs a lot for the host country. There wasn’t really any enthusiasm. They thought if Morocco won in 2025, it would reignite political interest, but after what happened, it raises questions…”
Recent rumors about Morocco possibly backing out of hosting the 2026 Women’s AFCON reinforce this impression. While nothing clearly indicates that Rabat will withdraw from AFCON 2028, the country might view this competition as a test before co-hosting the 2030 World Cup. However, according to journalist Philippe Doucet, Morocco seems more interested in the 2029 Club World Cup.
What if CAF has to improvise once again?
In the background, uncertainties linger around the 2027 AFCON, set to take place in Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania, with preparations moving at a snail’s pace. Some even mention the possibility of merging the 2027 and 2028 editions, a scenario that echoes the major upheaval of 2019 when Cameroon lost the hosting rights to Egypt. This led to the postponement of AFCON 2021 to 2023 in Ivory Coast. After deciding to move the competition to winter and shift to a four-year cycle, CAF will need to show creativity and pragmatism to tackle these challenges.
