Ghanaian President John Dramani Mahama has publicly backed Ethiopia’s bid to host the 2028 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) after touring the renovated Bahir Dar Stadium in northern Ethiopia.
The visit took place around October 24, 2026, in connection with the 12th Tana High-Level Forum on Security in Africa, held in Bahir Dar capital of the Amhara Region, near the source of the Blue Nile.
Mahama joined Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and other African leaders and senior officials for the inspection of the modern multi-purpose venue.
The Tour and Mahama’s Endorsement
Footage and photos from the sunny-day visit show Mahama, Abiy Ahmed, and accompanying officials walking the green pitch, inspecting facilities, interacting near soccer balls, and posing for group photographs in the stadium’s blue seating bowl. The 52,000-capacity stadium is CAF-certified (with reports noting Category 3 status after renovations, and ongoing work toward higher standards).
Mahama praised the infrastructure, stating that the facilities are impressive and that Ethiopia is ready to host a successful tournament. He noted that Ethiopia has not hosted AFCON in a very long time and that it is only fair for the country to be given the opportunity.
Ghanaian media outlets (including coverage monitored or reported by AhotorSports, alongside JoySports, Citi Sports, and others) highlighted his call for CAF to award Ethiopia the 2028 hosting rights.
This diplomatic gesture underscored regional solidarity and Ethiopia’s efforts to position Bahir Dar as a hub for sports, tourism, and cooperation.
Context of Ethiopia’s 2028 AFCON Bid
Ethiopia formally submitted a government-backed bid for the 2028 AFCON (the start of CAF’s planned four-year cycle for the tournament). The country previously hosted in 1962, 1968, and 1976 but has faced significant infrastructure gaps in recent decades, often requiring the national team to play “home” matches at neutral venues.
Key elements of the bid and readiness:
• Bahir Dar Stadium: Extensively renovated (with significant investment involving regional and federal efforts, and contractors including MIDROC and others). It regained CAF approval and has hosted international matches, including qualifiers. Capacity is approximately 52,000.
• Other venues: Plans center on multiple sites, including the under-construction Adey Abeba International Stadium in Addis Ababa (targeted capacity around 62,000, with completion expected around 2027 and major Chinese contractor involvement in later phases), plus upgrades or developments in Dire Dawa, Hawassa, Jimma, Akaki Kality, and others.
CAF requires multiple compliant stadiums (typically aiming for Category 4 standards), training facilities, accommodation, transport, and security for a 24-team tournament.
• Recent progress: A CAF technical evaluation/inspection team visited Ethiopia in mid-October 2026 (around October 15 onward), assessing proposed venues and related infrastructure such as hotels. Ethiopia has secured approvals for some facilities (e.g., Bahir Dar and Dire Dawa progress) but faces a tight timeline and the need for further upgrades at several sites.
Competition includes joint bids involving Southern African nations (reports have referenced combinations of Botswana, Namibia, South Africa, and Zimbabwe at various stages) and potential interest from others such as Morocco.
Broader Significance
The endorsement comes amid Ethiopia’s push under Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed to expand sports infrastructure as part of wider development and continental engagement. Hosting would mark a return after more than 50 years and could boost football development, tourism, and national pride, following the 2027 joint hosting by Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania in East Africa.
Mahama’s visit and comments form part of his participation in the Tana Forum (where he has roles related to peace and security reporting) and broader bilateral engagements, including earlier stops in Ethiopia.
Ethiopia’s bid remains subject to CAF’s full evaluation process, with infrastructure readiness (especially scaling to multiple high-standard venues in under two years) as the central challenge.
