Sahel Trio Launch Historic Bid to Host AFCON 2032

Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso have officially launched a joint bid to host the 2032 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), marking a historic collaboration between the three members of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES).

Officials from the football federations of the three countries met with Confederation of African Football (CAF) President Patrice Motsepe in New York to formally present their co-hosting ambition and discuss the next steps in the bidding process.

The Malian Football Federation described the meeting as a “pivotal stage” in the process, saying it would enable the three nations to begin fulfilling CAF’s requirements for hosting the continental showpiece.

In a joint commitment, the federations said they would continue preparations to submit “a robust and credible bid that embodies a new vision for African football.”

If successful, the proposal would bring AFCON back to Mali for the first time since 2002 and Burkina Faso since 1998, while giving Niger its first opportunity to host Africa’s biggest football tournament.

Mali currently has five CAF-approved stadiums, while Burkina Faso’s main stadium in Ouagadougou received CAF approval last year. Niger is also working to upgrade the General Seyni Kountche Stadium, which has been barred from hosting international matches since 2022 due to compliance issues.

The joint bid comes amid major security challenges facing the three Sahel nations, which continue to battle jihadist insurgencies and instability across parts of their territories.

However, football authorities in the countries believe the AFCON project could serve as a symbol of unity, development and a new chapter for football in the region.

The 2032 hosting race will follow the 2027 edition of AFCON, which will be jointly staged by Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda from June 19 to July 17, 2027.