Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger Submit Joint Bid for 2032 AFCON
Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger have jointly expressed interest in hosting the 2032 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), marking a collaborative bid by the three Sahel nations. The proposal follows the Confederation of African Football’s (CAF) decision to open the bidding process for the 2028, 2032 and 2036 editions of the continental tournament.
The initiative was confirmed by the Malian Football Federation (Femafoot), which indicated that the bid would emphasise regional cooperation, shared development goals and the advancement of football across the three countries. The federations are expected to work closely with their respective governments and relevant stakeholders to present a competitive proposal.
The development comes amid broader political changes in the region, as Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger, currently under military leadership, have strengthened ties through the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) after withdrawing from ECOWAS. Despite this cooperation, the three countries continue to face security challenges linked to insurgent activities.
CAF President Patrice Motsepe acknowledged the bid and stated that all interested countries would be given equal consideration. He noted that issues such as safety, infrastructure and ease of movement for teams and supporters would remain key factors in determining the host nation.
A preliminary engagement involving football officials from the three countries, including representatives such as Djibrilla Hima Hamidou of Niger, was held alongside Motsepe in New York ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup final. While Burkina Faso and Mali have previously hosted the tournament individually, Niger has yet to stage the competition.
CAF’s executive committee is expected to make the final decision on future AFCON hosts, with growing interest in the tournaments and ongoing discussions about possible expansion of participating teams.
