Sahel Alliance Countries Seek to Bring Tournament to Region
Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger have submitted a joint bid to host the 2032 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), as the three Sahel nations attempt to bring one of Africa’s biggest football tournaments to the region.
The bid comes after the Confederation of African Football (CAF) opened applications for the 2028, 2032, and 2036 editions of the competition.
Mali’s football federation said the proposal is based on “solidarity, regional integration, and sustainable development” while promising to work with relevant authorities to prepare a competitive hosting plan.
The three countries, which are currently led by military governments, hope football can become a symbol of cooperation and unity across the Sahel region.
Security Concerns Surround Hosting Bid
The joint proposal comes amid major security challenges facing the three nations.
Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger are all battling jihadist insurgencies that have affected parts of their territories. Their governments have also moved away from traditional Western security partnerships while strengthening ties with Russia.
The security situation is expected to be a major factor in CAF’s evaluation process, as the organisation requires guarantees on safety, infrastructure, and the movement of fans and teams.
CAF President Patrice Motsepe said the countries would not be disadvantaged simply because they are governed by military authorities.
“They will have as good a chance as everybody else,” Motsepe said, while adding that security concerns would need to be properly addressed before any final decision is made.
CAF Stresses Standards for AFCON Hosts
Motsepe said CAF must consider the realities on the ground while maintaining that democracy, free speech, and elections remain important values.
He also confirmed plans to visit the three countries to discuss the football aspects of their bid.
The CAF president emphasized that the final decision on tournament hosts will be made by the organisation’s executive committee and not by him personally.
CAF will assess several factors, including stadium facilities, transport systems, accommodation, security arrangements, and the ability to host thousands of supporters from across Africa.
Sahel Countries Strengthen Regional Cooperation
The AFCON bid follows the decision by Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger to leave the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) last year.
The three countries later created the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), a regional partnership focused on security, trade, and infrastructure development.
Their football federation leaders met with Motsepe in New York ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup final, where they presented their plans for the tournament.
Burkina Faso previously hosted AFCON in 1998, while Mali hosted the competition in 2002.
The upcoming 2027 tournament will be hosted jointly by Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda, marking the first time three countries will organize the competition together.
AFCON Future Plans Continue
From 2028, AFCON will move to a four-year cycle as CAF reviews the future structure of the tournament.
Motsepe revealed that CAF has received several strong bids for upcoming editions and is still considering whether to expand the competition from 24 teams to 28.
Meanwhile, the AES alliance is also expanding its media presence, with Burkina Faso approving plans for joint radio and television platforms aimed at promoting regional cooperation and shared information.
The 2032 AFCON bid could become a major test of whether football can help transform the image and international engagement of the Sahel region.
