Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger launch joint bid to host 2032 AFCON
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The three Alliance of Sahel States members have formally launched a joint bid to host the 2032 Africa Cup of Nations after meeting CAF President Patrice Motsepe in the United States. The proposal would mark Niger’s first time hosting the tournament if successful.
ACCRA — Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger have formally launched a joint bid to host the 2032 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), marking the first major sporting initiative undertaken collectively by the three countries since forming the Alliance of Sahel States (AES).
The three football associations confirmed the proposal following meetings with Confederation of African Football (CAF) President Patrice Motsepe in the United States during the closing stages of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The discussions represent the first formal step in CAF‘s bidding process for the 2032 tournament.
The bid comes after CAF opened applications for the 2028, 2032 and 2036 editions of Africa’s flagship men’s football competition. Member associations must now prepare comprehensive submissions covering stadium infrastructure, accommodation, transport, security, medical services and commercial requirements before technical and financial evaluations begin. Officials from the three countries described the proposal as a project built around regional solidarity, infrastructure development and the long-term growth of African football. The bid also reflects closer cooperation among the three governments following the establishment of the Alliance of Sahel States.
If selected, Niger would host AFCON for the first time in its history. Burkina Faso previously hosted the competition in 1998, while Mali staged the tournament in 2002. The 2027 edition will be jointly organised by Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda, continuing CAF’s growing acceptance of multi-nation hosting models.
CAF President Patrice Motsepe said no decision had been taken on the destination of the 2032 finals and stressed that every candidate would be assessed against the same standards.
He acknowledged that security, infrastructure and the protection of supporters would form part of the evaluation process but said no country would be excluded simply because of its political system. Motsepe added that CAF’s Executive Committee would ultimately determine the successful host following technical assessments. The announcement comes at a time when Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger continue to face significant security challenges linked to armed insurgencies. All three countries are governed by military-led administrations and formally withdrew from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) before deepening cooperation under the Alliance of Sahel States.
Despite those challenges, CAF officials have indicated that the bidding process remains open and that all candidates will be judged on their ability to meet the tournament’s operational, commercial and security requirements. For African football, the proposal represents another sign of the continent’s increasing willingness to embrace regional co-hosting. Rising infrastructure costs have encouraged neighbouring countries to pool resources, allowing investment in stadiums, transport networks and tourism while sharing the financial burden of hosting one of Africa’s biggest sporting events.
The 2032 race is expected to attract further interest before CAF begins its technical inspections. Candidate nations will undergo detailed evaluations covering venue readiness, logistics, security planning, accommodation capacity and legacy programmes before a final decision is made by CAF’s Executive Committee. Should the bid succeed, the tournament would become another milestone in West African football history and further expand the list of countries to have hosted the continent’s premier football championship.
Key Takeaways
Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger are pursuing a joint bid to stage the 2032 Africa Cup of Nations.
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01
A three-country bid has been launched
Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger have jointly entered the contest to host the 2032 Africa Cup of Nations.
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02
CAF discussions preceded the announcement
The proposal follows meetings involving representatives of the three countries and CAF President Patrice Motsepe in the United States.
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03
Niger could make hosting history
Niger would stage the senior Africa Cup of Nations for the first time if the joint proposal is approved.
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The bid still faces extensive assessment
CAF says candidate hosts must satisfy technical, financial, infrastructure, operational and security requirements before a final decision is made.
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Multi-country hosting is becoming more significant
The proposal reflects growing regional cooperation and the increasing use of shared hosting models for major African sporting events.
What CAF Will Assess
Capacity, playing surfaces, broadcasting facilities and spectator services.
Airports, roads and reliable movement between proposed host cities.
Hotels and suitable facilities for teams, officials, media and fans.
Tournament protection plans, emergency response and cross-border coordination.
Funding guarantees, delivery budgets and long-term infrastructure commitments.
A credible joint organising structure across the three participating states.
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