Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso have expressed their desire to jointly host the 2032 Africa Cup of Nations, according to their local federations, while a source at the Confederation of African Football (CAF) told AFP that what has been received is a declaration of intent. A source in the competitions department of the African Football Confederation told AFP that the process of receiving bids to host the 2028, 2032 and 2036 editions is open to member countries, noting that what has been received from the Sahel countries, Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger, is a 'declaration of intent' regarding the desire to host the 2032 edition of the tournament.

The source said: 'CAF opened the bidding to host the Africa Cup of Nations after the decision to hold the tournament every four years instead of every two years, starting from the 2028 edition. The door for receiving bids is still open, and no deadline has been set for closing the receipt of applications.' He explained: 'We have already received a declaration of intent from the federations of Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger regarding their desire to jointly organize the 2032 edition of the Africa Cup of Nations. The file has not yet been completed, because it is premature, and it has not gone beyond the stage of expressing intentions.'

Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda are scheduled to host the 2027 edition, which will take place in the summer of next year, while no federation has yet submitted a bid to host the 2028 edition. Officials of the football federations in Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso participated in a working meeting with CAF President, South African Patrice Motsepe, in New York, 'as part of the preparation of a joint bid file to host the 2032 Africa Cup of Nations,' according to a statement from the Malian Football Federation.

The Malian Federation explained that this step represents 'a crucial stage in the bid path,' and now allows the three federations to continue the procedures stipulated in CAF regulations regarding the awarding of the right to host the 2032 edition of the tournament. The statement added that the three federations will continue 'the necessary work to prepare a strong and reliable bid file that carries a new vision for African football.'