Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso have launched a joint bid to host the 2032 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), marking the first attempt by the three Sahel neighbours to stage the continental football tournament together.
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 their proposed joint bid.
According to the federation, the meeting represents a key milestone in the bidding process and allows the three football associations to begin the next stages required under CAF’s regulations for selecting the 2032 tournament host.
The federation said the three countries, all members of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), would continue preparations to submit what it described as a strong and credible bid that reflects a new vision for African football.
Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso are currently governed by military-led administrations following coups and continue to face security challenges linked to jihadist insurgencies across the Sahel region.
Burkina Faso previously hosted the Africa Cup of Nations in 1998, while Mali staged the tournament in 2002. Niger has never hosted the competition.
Mali currently has five CAF-approved stadiums, while Burkina Faso secured approval in 2025 for its main stadium in Ouagadougou. Niger is also upgrading the General Seyni Kountche Stadium, which has been barred from hosting international matches since 2022, to meet CAF standards.
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.
