Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso have officially begun efforts to secure the hosting rights for the 2032 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) through a joint bid.
The Malian Football Federation disclosed that representatives of the three countries met with Confederation of African Football (CAF) President Patrice Motsepe in New York on Saturday to discuss their proposal to stage the continental tournament together.
According to the federation, the meeting represents a major milestone in the bidding process and paves the way for the three football associations to begin meeting CAF’s requirements for hosting the 2032 competition.
In a statement, the federation said the countries would continue working together to prepare “a robust, credible bid that embodies a new vision for African football.”
The three nations, which are members of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), are currently governed by military administrations following separate coups and continue to face security challenges linked to persistent jihadist attacks.
Burkina Faso previously hosted the Africa Cup of Nations in 1998, while Mali staged the tournament in 2002. Niger is yet to host the continental championship.
Mali currently has five CAF-approved stadiums, while Burkina Faso’s main stadium in Ouagadougou received CAF approval in 2025.
Niger is also upgrading the General Seyni Kountche Stadium, which has been unable to host international matches since 2022, to meet CAF standards.
The next edition of the Africa Cup of Nations will be jointly hosted by Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda from June 19 to July 17, 2027.
