Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso have launched a joint bid to host the 2032 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), marking a significant collaboration among the three Sahel nations under military rule.
The Malian Football Federation announced that officials from the three countries met with Confederation of African Football (CAF) President Patrice Motsepe in New York on Saturday to discuss the proposed joint hosting of the continental tournament.
According to the federation, the meeting represents a key milestone in the bidding process, allowing the three football associations to begin fulfilling CAF’s requirements for the awarding of the 2032 AFCON.
The federation added that Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso would continue working together to prepare a strong and credible bid that reflects a new vision for the development of African football.
The three neighbouring countries, which form the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), are currently governed by military juntas following coups and continue to battle persistent insecurity caused by jihadist insurgencies.
In terms of infrastructure, Mali currently has five CAF-approved stadiums, while Burkina Faso secured CAF approval in 2025 for its main stadium in Ouagadougou.
Niger, which has never hosted the AFCON, is upgrading the General Seyni Kountche Stadium after it was barred from staging international matches in 2022. Burkina Faso previously hosted the tournament in 1998, while Mali staged the competition in 2002.
The next edition of the Africa Cup of Nations will be jointly hosted by Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda from June 19 to July 17, 2027, as the three Sahel nations push to secure the hosting rights for the 2032 tournament.
