Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger have officially entered the race to host the 2032 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) with a historic joint bid. This bold move highlights the growing ambition of the Alliance of Sahel States to bring Africa’s premier football tournament to their region for the first time as a collective effort.
The Nigerien Football Federation confirmed that the Confederation of African Football (CAF) has officially validated the joint expression of interest submitted by the three nations, marking the formal start of their campaign for the 2032 hosting rights.
Senegal and Libya Enter AFCON Bidding Race
Sahel’s main competition for AFCON 2032 is expected to come from Senegal. The Senegalese Minister of Sports announced that the country has already begun preparing its candidacy, hoping to host the tournament for the first time since 1992.
In a parallel bid, Libya has officially thrown its hat into the ring to host AFCON 2028. Libya’s bid relies on eight stadiums, featuring the 45,000-capacity Tripoli International Stadium and the Benghazi International Stadium, which holds over 40,000 spectators.
CAF had previously opened bidding for the 2028, 2032, and 2036 editions under a revamped framework designed to evaluate proposals based on stricter technical, financial, and legal criteria.
Major AFCON Format Changes Ahead
The upcoming edition of the Africa Cup of Nations will be co-hosted by Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda from June 19 to July 17, 2027, making it the first time in history that three nations will organize the event together.
The 2027 tournament carries historic significance as the last edition under the current schedule. CAF has decided to switch the AFCON to a four-year cycle instead of holding it every two years.
This transition will begin with a special edition in 2028, taking place just one year after the East African tournament. Following 2028, the continent will wait four years for the 2032 edition, where the bidding war is already heating up between the Sahel alliance and Senegal.
