Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger launch bid for 2032 AFCON

Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger, three countries led by military governments, have submitted a joint bid to host the 2032 Africa Cup of Nations.

The announcement comes after the Confederation of African Football (CAF) opened applications for the 2028, 2032 and 2036 editions of flagship tournament AFCON.

The Malian Football Federation (FEMAFOOT) said the joint proposal would be built around “solidarity, regional integration and sustainable development of African football”.

It added it would work with relevant authorities to prepare a “solid, credible bid” aimed at bringing a new vision to the continental game.

The three neighbours officially left the West African regional bloc ECOWAS last year after forming the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), a pact aimed at strengthening co-operation including in areas such as security, infrastructure, trade and economic development.

However, the security situation across Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger remains deeply unstable in the midst of attacks from armed jihadist groups. The trio of governments have moved away from traditional Western security partners and strengthened ties with Russia.

CAF president Patrice Motsepe, when asked by BBC Sport Africa if continental football’s governing body would need security guarantees before assessing the bid, said the three countries “will have as good a chance as everybody else” of hosting the finals.-BBC

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