Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso have officially launched a joint bid to host the 2032 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), marking the first time the three Alliance of Sahel States (AES) members will seek to stage the tournament together.

According to AFP, the Malian Football Federation announced that officials from the three countries met with Confederation of African Football (CAF) President Patrice Motsepe in New York on Saturday to discuss their proposed joint bid.

The federation described the meeting as “a pivotal stage in the bidding process”, saying it allows the three football associations to begin the formal procedures required under CAF regulations for the awarding of the 2032 tournament.

The statement added that the federations would continue working together to prepare “a robust, credible bid that embodies a new vision for African football.”

The three neighbouring countries are members of the Alliance of Sahel States and are currently governed by military administrations following coups. They also continue to face security challenges linked to jihadist insurgencies across the region.

Burkina Faso previously hosted the Africa Cup of Nations in 1998, while Mali staged the tournament in 2002. Niger has never hosted the continental competition.

In terms of infrastructure, Mali currently has five CAF-approved stadiums. Burkina Faso secured CAF approval in 2025 for its main stadium in Ouagadougou, while Niger is upgrading the General Seyni Kountche Stadium, which has been barred from hosting international matches since 2022, to meet CAF standards.

The next edition of AFCON will be jointly hosted by Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda from June 19 to July 17, 2027.