Join on WhatsApp
Join on Telegram
Rabat – Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso have officially taken the first step toward a joint bid to host the 2032 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) under the banner of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES).
The football federations of the three countries held a working meeting with CAF President Patrice Motsepe in New York on Saturday to discuss a joint candidacy for the continental tournament, according to a statement released Tuesday by the Malian Football Federation.
The federation described the meeting as “a decisive step” in the bidding process, allowing the three member associations to move forward with the procedures required by CAF’s regulations for the hosting rights of AFCON 2032.
The three federations said they will continue preparing a “solid and credible” bid that offers “a new vision for African football” while aiming to stage a tournament that meets international standards. The Nigerien Football Federation also confirmed the initiative.
The three countries, all governed by military-led administrations that form the Alliance of Sahel States, are seeking to strengthen regional cooperation through the joint hosting project despite ongoing security challenges in the Sahel.
In terms of football infrastructure, both Burkina Faso and Mali have previous AFCON hosting experience. Burkina Faso staged the tournament in 1998, while Mali hosted the 2002 edition.
Mali currently has five CAF-approved stadiums, while Burkina Faso’s Stade du 4 Août regained CAF approval in 2025 after renovations. Niger has never hosted AFCON and is still upgrading Stade Général Seyni Kountché, which has been barred from hosting international matches since 2022 due to infrastructure requirements.
If successful, the joint bid would mark the first time the three AES nations host the Africa Cup of Nations together.
