Niger, Mali, Burkina Faso Submit Joint Bid to Host 2032 AFCON

Niger, Mali, Burkina Faso Submit Joint Bid to Host 2032 AFCON
CAF accepts expression of interest but hosting rights remain undecided.
Niger could host Africa Cup of Nations for the first time.

Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso have declared their intention to jointly host the 2032 Africa Cup of Nations after submitting an expression of interest to the Confederation of African Football.

EDITOR’S PICKS

EKO HOT BLOG reports that CAF has accepted the joint declaration, marking the first step in the three countries’ bid to stage the continental tournament.

However, the acceptance does not mean that the hosting rights have been awarded, as the countries must still complete the bidding process and meet CAF’s requirements.

The proposal was presented after representatives of the three football federations met with CAF President Patrice Motsepe in the United States during the closing stages of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

The proposed bid brings together the three members of the Alliance of Sahel States in a joint effort to host one of Africa’s biggest sporting events.

CAF officially opened the bidding process for the 2028, 2032 and 2036 Africa Cup of Nations tournaments earlier this month, inviting all 54 member associations to submit hosting proposals.

The continental football governing body said each bid would be assessed based on technical, financial and legal requirements.

Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso must now prepare a comprehensive bid document outlining their plans for stadium infrastructure, training facilities, transportation systems, accommodation and security arrangements.

CAF is yet to announce when it will select the host of the 2032 tournament or reveal the full list of countries competing for the hosting rights.

If the joint bid succeeds, Burkina Faso and Mali would host the Africa Cup of Nations for the second time in their history.

Niger, Mali, Burkina Faso Submit Joint Bid to Host 2032 AFCON

Burkina Faso last hosted the tournament in 1998, while Mali staged the competition in 2002.

For Niger, however, a successful bid would see the country host the Africa Cup of Nations for the first time.

The proposed joint hosting arrangement would also mark a significant moment for the three Sahel nations, which are seeking to use sport as a platform to promote regional cooperation and showcase their capacity to host major international competitions.