Anadolu correspondent Ahmed Hassan reported from Istanbul

The joint bid initiative comes after years of security and economic cooperation among the three countries within the Sahel States Alliance.

The football federations of Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger, the three countries that make up the Sahel States Alliance, have expressed interest in submitting a joint bid to host the 2032 Africa Cup of Nations.

The three countries held a meeting in New York on July 18, on the sidelines of the 2026 World Cup final, attended by CAF President Patrice Motsepe and the presidents of the Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso federations.

During the meeting, the three African Union member states expressed their interest in hosting the continent's biggest sporting event, confirming that Motsepe welcomed the initiative based on a vision of regional cooperation and encouraged the three countries to continue their efforts.

The statement added that the three federations will begin completing the required procedures according to the regulations of the Confederation of African Football regarding the selection of the host country or countries for the continental tournament.

The joint bid aims to present an innovative vision for African football and prepare a project that meets international standards in terms of infrastructure, organization and logistics.

The three countries seek to capitalize on the development of their sports facilities in recent times, as both Mali and Burkina Faso have seen improvements in stadium infrastructure, which enhances their chances of competing to host the continental event.

Burkina Faso hosted the tournament in 1998, Mali in 2002, while Niger has never organized the finals.

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has launched the bidding process to host the 2032 Africa Cup of Nations, while the next edition is scheduled to take place from June 19 to July 17, 2027 in Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania.

A press release stated: 'The Confederation of African Football has officially opened the bidding process for member associations wishing to host the 2028, 2032 and 2036 editions of the Africa Cup of Nations.'

It is worth noting that Burkina Faso and Mali have previously hosted the tournament in 1998 and 2002 respectively, while Niger has never hosted. The 2027 edition is scheduled to be held in Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania. Bids are open for the 2028, 2032 and 2036 editions, meaning strong competition from other African countries. The joint bid represents an unprecedented step in the history of the tournament, as the three countries seek to present a model of regional cooperation in organizing sporting events.