Ghana's president says Ethiopia is ready to host AFCON 2028 after touring the CAF-certified, 52,000-seat Bahir Dar Stadium.
Ghana's President John Dramani Mahama has thrown his weight behind Ethiopia's bid to host the 2028 Africa Cup of Nations, declaring the country ready to stage a successful tournament after touring Bahir Dar Stadium.
Mahama described the 52,000-capacity venue as impressive and pointed to its Confederation of African Football certification as proof that Ethiopia has the infrastructure to welcome the continent's biggest football event. He also made a case based on fairness, noting that Ethiopia has gone a very long time without hosting the tournament and deserves another opportunity.
The Ghanaian leader spoke during a visit to the stadium with Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and other African leaders and senior officials in town for the 12th Tana High-Level Forum on Security in Africa. The inspection came after the forum's opening in Bahir Dar, the capital of the Amhara Region, close to the source of the Blue Nile.
For Ethiopia, a founding member of CAF and a historic force in the African game, the endorsement adds political momentum to a campaign to bring the continental showpiece back home. Public backing from a fellow head of state signals growing continental goodwill, and it shines a light on the kind of stadium investment that can shape who gets to host Africa's flagship competition.
