Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger, three countries currently led by military governments, have officially submitted a joint bid to host the 2032 Africa Cup of Nations. This move comes as the Confederation of African Football (Caf) opened applications for the 2028, 2032, and 2036 editions of their flagship tournament. It’s a bold pitch, especially with the security situation in these nations still described as “deeply unstable,” facing ongoing attacks from armed jihadist groups.
The Alliance’s Vision and Reality Check
The Malian Football Federation, known as Femafoot, laid out the vision for their joint proposal, focusing on “solidarity, regional integration and sustainable development of African football.” They are aiming to craft a “solid, credible bid” that could bring a “new vision to the continental game.” It’s an interesting play, considering these three neighbors officially left the West African regional bloc Ecowas last year. They formed the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), a pact designed to boost co-operation in areas like security, infrastructure, trade, and economic development. Historically, Burkina Faso and Mali have hosted Afcon before, but Niger has only made it to the finals twice, in 2012 and 2013. Adding another layer to the narrative, these governments have also shifted away from traditional Western security partners, strengthening ties with Russia.
Caf’s Stance: Balancing Ideals and “Reality”
When BBC Sport Africa pressed Caf president Patrice Motsepe about potential security guarantees for the bid, his response was telling. He stated that these countries “will have as good a chance as everybody else” to host and won’t be “disadvantaged or prejudiced by the fact that they are military juntas.” However, he quickly acknowledged, “you raise a very important point,” confirming that “The questions of safety and security… those are questions that we will have to address.” Motsepe stressed that “no decision that has been taken as to where it [Afcon 2032] will go,” and that Caf has to “deal with reality.” He also highlighted that “democracy and freedom of speech and regular elections, that’s non-negotiable. And that’s critical,” though he plans to visit these countries to “engage on the football part.” The Caf executive committee ultimately calls the shots, and Motsepe emphasized that standards are “very high,” requiring conviction that there will be free movement, safety, police protection, and good infrastructure for all fans and guests.
It’s clear this bid is going to be heavily scrutinized. Motsepe, who mentioned receiving “exciting bids” for all three upcoming Afcon editions, even held a preliminary meeting in New York on Saturday with the Femafoot president, along with counterparts from Burkina Faso and Niger, ahead of the 2026 Fifa World Cup final. Colonel-Major Djibrilla Hima Hamidou, a Fifa Council member and honorary president of Niger’s football federation, was also there. All eyes will be on how Caf navigates these complex geopolitical and security considerations as the bidding process moves forward.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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