Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger have submitted a joint proposal to host the 2032 edition of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), as the three Sahel nations seek to stage the continent’s premier football tournament.
The bid follows an invitation from the Confederation of African Football (CAF) for interested countries to submit applications for the 2028, 2032 and 2036 AFCON tournaments.
The Malian Football Federation (Femafoot) said the joint candidature is anchored on the principles of regional unity, cooperation and the long-term growth of African football. It added that the three countries would work with relevant stakeholders to develop a strong and competitive proposal aimed at introducing a new approach to hosting the tournament.
The move comes after Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger formed the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) following their withdrawal from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). The alliance seeks to deepen cooperation among the three countries in areas including security, trade, infrastructure and economic development.
However, the proposed hosting bid faces questions over security, as the three countries continue to battle attacks from armed extremist groups. Their military-led governments have also shifted away from traditional Western security partnerships while strengthening relations with Russia.
CAF President Patrice Motsepe said the three nations would not be excluded because of their political situation, but stressed that safety, security and infrastructure would be critical factors in the final decision.
He said CAF would require assurances that fans, teams and officials could travel freely and safely, with adequate facilities and security measures in place.
The bid was discussed during a meeting in New York between CAF President Patrice Motsepe and football officials from Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup final.
Burkina Faso previously hosted AFCON in 1998, while Mali staged the tournament in 2002. The 2027 edition will mark the first time the competition is hosted by three countries — Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda.
CAF is expected to announce the successful hosts after evaluating all submitted proposals, with the final decision to be taken by its Executive Committee.
Source: citinews
