The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has officially announced that its regular General Assembly will be held in Addis Ababa, the capital city of Ethiopia.
The conference, initially scheduled to take place in the Democratic Republic of Congo, was relocated to Addis Ababa due to concerns surrounding the recent monkeypox outbreak in Congo.
CAF President Patrice Motsepe confirmed the decision, highlighting that health concerns prompted the change in venue.
The Ethiopian Football Federation also revealed that the Ethiopian government had submitted a formal request to host the General Assembly, which was subsequently approved by CAF.
The upcoming CAF General Assembly is set to take place in October 2024, marking a significant event for both Ethiopian football and the broader African sports community.
In a press conference leading up to the Assembly, CAF provided updates on other major football events.
The 2024 African Nations Championship (CHAN) will be hosted across three cities—Nairobi (Kenya), Kampala (Uganda), and Dar es Salaam (Tanzania)—in February 2024.
Furthermore, the qualification rounds for the 2024 Africa Cup of Nations will occur in October and December of this year, gearing up for one of the continent’s most prestigious football tournaments.
Looking ahead, Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania are set to co-host the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations, a testament to East Africa’s growing influence in continental football.
Ethiopia has long been a key player in African football, and the country is eager to reclaim its prominent role in hosting major tournaments.
Last April, Ethiopian Minister of Culture and Sports, Kejela Merdasa, stated that Ethiopia is actively preparing to host the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in either 2029 or 2031.
However, the minister acknowledged that Ethiopia needs to upgrade its football infrastructure to meet the current standards set by CAF.
For Ethiopia to successfully host the AFCON, at least six modern, CAF-standard stadiums will be required. Kejela pointed out that Ethiopia currently lacks a single stadium that meets these new CAF regulations, which has posed significant challenges for the national team.
The Ethiopian national football team has been compelled to play home matches abroad due to the absence of suitable stadiums within the country.
One of the most anticipated projects is the completion of the Adey Abeba Stadium in Addis Ababa, which is designed to seat 62,000 spectators.
However, the construction has faced delays, preventing it from being completed as scheduled. Despite Ethiopia having multiple stadiums spread across its regions, none currently meet the stringent CAF standards.
Ethiopia holds a rich footballing history as one of the founding members of the Africa Cup of Nations.
The country hosted the AFCON in 1962, a year that also saw Ethiopia lift the coveted trophy after defeating Egypt in the final.
Despite this historic victory, Ethiopia has struggled to replicate its success on the continental stage, having won the cup only once.
