Ahmed Salem
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has approved the joint bid submitted by Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger to host the 2032 Africa Cup of Nations, in a move that paves the way for the three countries to begin the official bidding process.
The approval came after a meeting between the president of the African Football Confederation and officials from the national federations in the three countries, where he gave them the green light to proceed with completing the hosting file.
This is the first joint move by Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger to host the continental championship, within the framework of regional cooperation aimed at organizing the event in a unified manner.
If the project wins the hosting rights, it is expected to contribute to strengthening the sports infrastructure by creating and developing stadiums and road networks, in addition to providing job opportunities and supporting development in the Sahel region.
CAF has not yet issued a final timetable for selecting the host country or countries for the 2032 edition, while the three countries are preparing to complete the requirements of the candidacy file in accordance with the approved regulations.
“CAF gives the green light to the Sahel Alliance countries' bid
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has officially approved the declaration of intent by Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger to host the 2032 Africa Cup of Nations.
The Nigerian Football Federation made this announcement on July 20, 2026.
This recognition of administrative eligibility represents the first crucial step in this process, as it allows the offer submitted by the three member states of the Sahel Alliance to move to the technical evaluation phase.
Submitting a bid that meets CAF requirements“
This is the first major international sporting project to be carried out collectively under the umbrella of the Sahel Alliance.
To secure the hosting rights for the 24-team tournament, the Sahel Alliance countries must submit a bid that meets the requirements of the Confederation of African Football, particularly with regard to the following:
International standards for stadiums and training centers
– Capacity of hotels and accommodations
Transportation network and security and financial guarantees
Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda are considering launching a unified visa for the tournament.
In another context, Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda are holding talks on launching a unified visa for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON 2027), which would allow fans, tourists, players and officials to move freely between the three host countries using only one visa.
If this initiative is adopted, it will facilitate travel, boost tourism and trade, and highlight a greater level of regional integration among East African countries during the continent's biggest football tournament.
The 2027 Africa Cup of Nations will be the first edition in the competition's history to be jointly hosted by three East African countries: Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda.
Exemption from entry visa requirements
Last April, the Ugandan government decided to exempt visitors and fans coming to attend the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations from entry visa requirements, in a strategic move aimed at ensuring the success of the anticipated African tournament.
