3 countries vie to organize the AFCON.. Will the Lions of Teranga join?

The Nigerien Football Federation officially announced that Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger have submitted a joint bid to host the 2032 Africa Cup of Nations finals, making this trio the first officially declared candidate to organize the continental edition in 6 years.

The Nigerien Football Federation confirmed in an official statement that its African counterpart has definitively approved the expression of interest submitted by the three countries, in response to the call launched by CAF at the beginning of July to receive bids from those wishing to host the Africa Cup of Nations editions in 2028, 2032, and 2036.

The Nigerien Federation's statement said: 'The Nigerien Football Federation informs the national public and the football family that the African Football Confederation has officially confirmed that the declaration of interest by Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger to organize the 2032 Africa Cup of Nations has been approved.'

Burkina Faso 🇧🇫, Mali 🇦🇱 and Niger 🇳🇪 officially in the race for the CAN 2032

The Nigerien Football Federation (FENIFOOT) announced excellent news. The African Football Confederation (CAF) has officially confirmed that the declaration of interest… pic.twitter.com/bSQtBQ4dTa

— Lassana Camara (@mauritaniefoot) July 21, 2026

Will Senegal bid?

The file of the three countries under the Sahel States Alliance (AES) has become the first official bid to host the 2032 edition, awaiting the possibility of Senegal entering the competition, after it previously expressed interest in organizing the tournament last May through former Sports Minister Khady Diène Gaye.

This joint bid represents a new step for the three countries to enhance their sports presence, as they seek to host the biggest football event in Africa for the first time in this collective form.

Libya enters the 2028 race

In the race to host the 2028 Africa Cup of Nations, Libya officially announced its candidacy to organize the tournament, which will be the last before adopting a quadrennial system instead of the current one.

Libya's entry is a surprise in the organization race, especially after several other countries expressed their intention to bid without submitting official files, including Egypt, Botswana and South Africa, as well as Ethiopia.

Morocco, the host of the last Africa Cup of Nations, for its part announced its unwillingness to bid to host any future edition of the tournament, despite reports indicating a desire within the African Football Confederation to convince it to return to the organization race, especially with ongoing concerns about the readiness of the bid by Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania to host the 2027 edition.