Alliance of Sahel States advances joint bid to host AFCON 2032
The Football Association of Nigeria (FENIFOOT) announced on behalf of Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger that the Confederation of African Football (CAF) has formally accepted their Declaration of Interest to co‑host the 2032 Africa Cup of Nations. This acceptance marks the first official step in CAF’s multi‑stage tender process, confirming that the three Sahel nations meet the baseline eligibility criteria set out in Article 7.3 of the CAF Bidding Rules.
What the acceptance means
By accepting the declaration, CAF acknowledges that the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) has submitted the required documentation and can now proceed to the detailed evaluation phase. At this stage, the bid is not yet awarded hosting rights; rather, the AES countries will continue to develop their technical, financial and legacy plans under CAF’s guidance.
CAF’s bidding framework and recent developments
Earlier in July 2024, CAF opened the bidding window for the 2028, 2032 and 2036 editions of the Africa Cup of Nations, inviting all 54 member associations to submit applications. To ensure a transparent and internationally recognised process, CAF partnered with the consultancy firm PwC and enlisted additional technical, financial and legal advisers.
According to CAF, the Africa Cup of Nations remains the continent’s premier sporting event, drawing an estimated 3.2 billion television viewers and 6 billion digital viewers worldwide per tournament.
Regional cooperation and the AES context
The three countries involved—Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger—are members of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), a regional bloc created in 2023 after their respective military‑led governments withdrew from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). The AES aims to foster collaboration on security, development and, increasingly, sport.
If successful, the joint AFCON 2032 bid would be the first time the neighbouring Sahel states host Africa’s flagship football competition together. Such a multi‑nation hosting model aligns with CAF’s recent trend of sharing infrastructure costs and expanding the tournament’s regional impact, as seen with the upcoming TotalEnergies AFCON 2027, which will be co‑hosted by Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda from 19 June to 17 July 2027.
High‑level engagement and next steps
On 18 July 2024, CAF President Patrice Motsepe met with the presidents of the football associations of Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger in New York. Motsepe welcomed the trio’s shared ambition, describing it as a demonstration of regional cooperation, and urged the associations to continue preparing their bid in line with CAF’s technical requirements and procedural timelines.
The upcoming evaluation will assess factors such as stadium readiness, transport and accommodation capacity, legacy programmes, and financial guarantees. Only after this rigorous review will CAF announce the host nation or nations for AFCON 2032.
Key facts at a glance
- Declaration of Interest accepted by CAF – July 2024
- Bid involves Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger (AES members)
- CAF’s AFCON reaches >3.2 billion TV viewers and 6 billion digital viewers
- TotalEnergies AFCON 2027 co‑hosted by Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda (June‑July 2027)
- AES formed after withdrawal from ECOWAS (2023)
- CAF engaged PwC and other advisers for a transparent bidding process
While the acceptance of the Declaration of Interest is a significant milestone, the Alliance of Sahel States must now demonstrate that it can deliver a world‑class tournament that leaves lasting benefits for the region. The coming months will see intensified preparation, stakeholder engagement, and technical submissions as the bid moves toward the final decision.
