President John Dramani Mahama has appealed to the Confederation of African Football (CAF) to consider and accept Ethiopia’s bid to host the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), expressing confidence in the country’s ability to provide facilities for the continent’s premier football tournament.

Mahama made the appeal during a visit to the 52,000-capacity Bahir Dar Stadium in Ethiopia, where he acknowledged the impressive nature of the sporting facility and highlighted its potential to support the country’s ambitions of hosting a major international football competition.

The visit provided an opportunity for the Ghanaian leader to observe the stadium’s facilities and assess the infrastructure that could contribute to Ethiopia’s efforts to attract the prestigious continental tournament.

AFCON is one of Africa’s biggest sporting events, bringing together national teams from across the continent to compete for the championship while attracting supporters, tourists, sponsors and international media.

Hosting the competition can provide significant opportunities for a country to showcase its sporting infrastructure, promote tourism and generate economic activity through hospitality, transportation, merchandising and other related services.

Mahama’s appeal to CAF reflects support for Ethiopia’s ambition to become a host nation, with the Bahir Dar Stadium serving as an important facility in the country’s preparations to demonstrate its capacity to stage major football events.

The 52,000-seat stadium offers substantial spectator capacity, an important consideration for tournaments that attract large crowds and require venues capable of accommodating supporters while meeting the necessary standards for competition.

However, hosting AFCON involves more than having a stadium with sufficient seating capacity, as prospective host nations must also demonstrate their ability to provide the required supporting infrastructure, including training facilities, accommodation, transportation and security arrangements.

CAF is responsible for organising AFCON and determining the host nations in accordance with its established requirements and procedures, making its assessment central to Ethiopia’s bid.

Mahama’s comments place emphasis on the importance of giving Ethiopia’s hosting ambition serious consideration, particularly as African countries continue to invest in sporting infrastructure and seek opportunities to stage major continental competitions.

For Ethiopia, securing the tournament could provide an opportunity to strengthen its position in African football and attract international attention to its sporting facilities and wider tourism potential.

The appeal also reflects the role that cooperation among African countries can play in supporting sporting development and encouraging more nations to pursue opportunities to host major competitions.

Mahama’s visit to Bahir Dar Stadium has therefore provided a platform to express support for Ethiopia’s AFCON ambitions, with the country’s bid depending on CAF’s assessment of its readiness and compliance with the requirements for hosting the tournament.

Source: https://x.com/i/status/2114752921661256053