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Three West African nations ruled by military juntas and battling persistent jihadist insurgencies are aiming to bring Africa’s biggest football tournament back to the Sahel. Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger have formally launched a joint bid to host the 2032 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), presenting the tournament as a symbol of regional unity despite the security crises gripping all three countries.
The countries, which make up the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), unveiled their proposal to Confederation of African Football (CAF) President Patrice Motsepe during a meeting in New York on Saturday on the sidelines of the 2026 FIFA World Cup final. The delegation included Malian Football Federation (Femafoot) President Mamoutou Touré, his counterparts from Burkina Faso and Niger, and Colonel-Major Djibrilla Hima Hamidou, a FIFA Council member and honorary president of Niger’s football federation.
Femafoot described the meeting as a key milestone in the bidding process, saying it allows the three federations to move ahead with the steps outlined in CAF’s regulations for selecting the 2032 hosts.
The federation said the bid is built on “solidarity, regional integration and the sustainable development of African football.” It added that officials would continue working with national authorities to prepare a “solid, credible bid” that offers a fresh vision for the continental game.
The announcement comes just weeks after CAF opened the bidding process for the 2028, 2032 and 2036 AFCON tournaments, inviting all 54 member associations to submit proposals. Prospective hosts must meet strict requirements covering stadiums, training facilities, transport, accommodation and security, with every bid undergoing technical, financial and legal assessments.
A regional alliance taking shape
Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger formally withdrew from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) last year after creating the AES, a bloc focused on security, infrastructure, trade and economic cooperation.
Since then, the three governments have deepened military ties with Russia while continuing to confront insurgencies linked to al-Qaeda and Islamic State affiliates that have claimed thousands of lives across the region.
Against that backdrop, Motsepe was asked by BBC Sport Africa whether CAF would require security guarantees before considering the joint bid.
“They are not going to be disadvantaged or prejudiced by the fact that they are military juntas, but you raise a very important point,” he said.
“The questions of safety and security are questions that we will have to address. But there’s no decision that has been taken as to where AFCON 2032 will go.”
Motsepe acknowledged that governance also remains an important consideration.
“Of course, democracy and freedom of speech and regular elections, that’s non-negotiable. And that’s critical,” he said, adding that CAF must also “deal with reality.”
He said he plans to visit all three countries to engage with them on the football aspects of the bid.
Hosting decision rests with CAF
Motsepe rejected suggestions that the final decision rests with him alone, stressing that CAF’s executive committee will choose the hosts.
“There are so many presidents who think I have the power to decide that the AFCON is going to go to a certain country,” he said.
“I don’t want that power because part of my duty is to create a culture where CAF functions in a manner that reflects ethics and governance and transparency, but also global best practices.”
He said every bid must demonstrate that supporters can travel freely and safely, with reliable policing and adequate infrastructure in place.
Infrastructure remains one of the biggest hurdles for the Sahel bid. Niger has never hosted AFCON and is upgrading the General Seyni Kountche Stadium after it lost the right to stage international matches in 2022. Burkina Faso last hosted the tournament in 1998, while Mali welcomed the competition in 2002. A successful bid would return AFCON to Mali after 30 years while giving Burkina Faso and Niger another opportunity to stage the event.
AFCON enters a new era
The race to host AFCON comes as the competition itself undergoes major changes.
Motsepe said CAF has received “exciting bids” for the 2028, 2032 and 2036 editions and is still considering expanding the tournament from 24 to 28 teams.
Beginning in 2028, AFCON will move to a four-year cycle, ending its long-standing biennial schedule. Before then, Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda will jointly host the 2027 tournament, marking the competition’s first three-country hosting arrangement. Senegal will defend the title after defeating Morocco in January’s final in Rabat.
AES expands beyond security
The football bid comes as the AES continues building shared regional institutions beyond defence and economic cooperation.
Burkina Faso’s transitional parliament this week approved the creation of two joint media outlets, Daande Liptako Radio and Tafouk TV. The broadcasters are intended to serve as common communication platforms for the alliance, strengthening coordination and promoting the bloc’s messaging as the three governments continue developing institutions outside the ECOWAS framework they left behind.
By: Andrews Kwesi Yeboah