Mahama Says Ethiopia Ready to Host Successful 2028 AFCON Tournament

What changed

Ghanaian President John Dramani Mahama said Ethiopia is ready to host a successful Africa Cup of Nations after visiting Bahir Dar Stadium on October 24, 2026. The stadium holds 52,000 spectators and is certified by CAF; Ethiopia is bidding to host the 2028 tournament.

Why it matters

Mahama’s endorsement gives Ethiopia’s bid a visible vote of confidence from another African head of state. It also puts the focus on a specific venue, rather than on a general promise: Bahir Dar Stadium has the capacity and certification needed to make the hosting case tangible.

Ethiopia has not hosted AFCON for a long time, so the bid carries more than tournament logistics. It is a chance to place Bahir Dar, the capital of Amhara Region near the source of the Blue Nile, at the centre of a major continental event. The harder question is whether the country’s wider tournament infrastructure can meet CAF’s requirements, and whether Ethiopia will ultimately win the 2028 decision.