Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger have officially submitted a joint bid to host the 2032 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), marking a significant step in the Alliance of Sahel States’ (AES) ambition to showcase regional unity through football despite ongoing security challenges. The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has confirmed receipt and acceptance of the three nations’ declaration of interest, allowing the bid to move to the next stage of the selection process.
The three neighboring countries, all governed by military-led administrations, announced the bid under the banner of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES). If successful, it would be the first time the three nations jointly host Africa’s biggest football tournament, reflecting a growing trend toward co-hosting major sporting events to spread costs and improve infrastructure.
CAF opened bidding for the 2028, 2032 and 2036 AFCON tournaments as part of its new long-term hosting cycle. While the 2028 race has already attracted multiple contenders, the Sahel trio have become the first officially declared candidates for the 2032 edition. Their proposal will now undergo CAF’s evaluation process, which includes infrastructure, security, transport, accommodation and government guarantees before a final host is selected.
One notable aspect of the bid is its diplomatic significance. Beyond football, the proposal represents an effort by the three countries to project stability and strengthen regional cooperation at a time when they face persistent insurgencies and have increasingly aligned politically and militarily through the AES. Analysts say the bid is as much about reshaping international perceptions of the region as it is about hosting a football tournament.
The three countries have differing levels of AFCON hosting experience. Mali staged the tournament in 2002, while Burkina Faso hosted it in 1998. Niger has never hosted Africa’s premier football competition. A successful joint bid would therefore bring the tournament to Niger for the first time while highlighting a new era of regional collaboration in African football.
