West African trio of Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso throw hat into ring for 2032 Africa Cup of Nations hosting rights

African nations Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso, all currently under military leadership, are making a collective bid to host the 2032 Africa Cup of Nations, a significant sporting event on the continent.

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The decision to submit a joint bid was solidified during a meeting between officials and Confederation of African Football president Patrice Motsepe, which took place in New York on Saturday.

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The trio of countries, which are also allies within the Alliance of Sahel States, face numerous challenges, including rampant insecurity and devastating attacks by jihadist groups that have resulted in thousands of fatalities.

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The meeting with the CAF president marks a crucial point in the bidding process, according to the Malian Football Federation, enabling the three nations to move forward with the necessary steps as outlined in CAF regulations.

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The federation's statement emphasized that this meeting allows the member associations to proceed with preparing a comprehensive and credible bid that encapsulates a fresh vision for African football.

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The three federations will collaborate to compile a robust bid, as stated in the Malian federation's announcement, highlighting their commitment to presenting a unified and compelling proposal.

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Historically, Burkina Faso hosted the AFCON in 1998, while Mali had the honor of hosting in 2002, but Niger has yet to host the tournament.

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Mali boasts five stadiums approved by CAF, and Burkina Faso recently received approval in 2025 for its main stadium in Ouagadougou, bringing it up to international standards.

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Niger, on the other hand, is working to upgrade its General Seyni Kountche Stadium, which has been barred from hosting international matches since 2022, to meet the required standards.

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The next AFCON is scheduled to take place from June 19 to July 17, 2027, and will be co-hosted by Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda.