Saturday 31 January 2026 – 12:56 AM
The race to host the 2028 African Cup of Nations has entered the decisive stage, after the Confederation of African Football determined “enough“February 1 is the deadline for national federations wishing to submit candidacy files to organize the continental championship.
CAF sets February 1 as a deadline for federations wishing to nominate themselves to organize the 2028 African Nations
According to international press reports, a number of countries have expressed their official interest in competing in the hosting race, led by Ethiopia and South Africa, which are working to prepare strong files before closing the nomination window, awaiting the official step from CAF.
Reports indicate that the African Union has opened the door for nominations to host the 2028, 2032 and 2036 editions of the tournament, with the requirement of meeting organizational and technical standards, in addition to providing government guarantees, which prompted several countries to move early in order to reserve their position in the race.
Despite the increasing media talk about the developed countries, the Confederation of African Football has not yet issued any official statement revealing the final list of countries that have submitted their files, to be announced after the expiration of the specified deadline.
The race to host the 2028 African Nations is expected to witness strong competition among the submitted bids, especially in light of CAF’s desire to choose a country capable of presenting a distinctive organizational version that keeps pace with the rapid development of the continental championship in recent years.
