Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger Enter Race to Host AFCON 2032

Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger Enter Race to Host AFCON 2032

By BSN Sports 

Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger have formally declared their intention to jointly host the 2032 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), marking a significant step in their ambition to stage Africa's premier football tournament, BSNSports.com.ng reports.

The three West African nations submitted a joint expression of interest to the Confederation of African Football (CAF), which has acknowledged receipt as part of the initial phase of the bidding process.

The submission, however, does not amount to the award of hosting rights, as CAF is yet to begin the evaluation of candidate nations before selecting a host.

The joint proposal was presented following a meeting between representatives of the three football federations and CAF President Patrice Motsepe in the United States during the closing stages of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

The bid brings together the three members of the Alliance of Sahel States in a coordinated effort to host one of the continent's biggest sporting events.

Earlier this month, CAF officially opened the bidding process for the 2028, 2032 and 2036 editions of the Africa Cup of Nations, inviting its 54 member associations to submit hosting proposals. The governing body said all bids would be assessed based on technical, financial and legal requirements.

As part of the next stage of the process, Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger are expected to submit a comprehensive bid document outlining key infrastructure, including stadiums, training facilities, transportation, accommodation and security arrangements.

CAF has yet to announce a timeline for selecting the host nation for the 2032 tournament or reveal the full list of countries competing for the hosting rights.

If successful, the tournament would return to Burkina Faso and Mali for the first time since they hosted the competition in 1998 and 2002 respectively, while Niger would welcome the Africa Cup of Nations for the first time in its history.