Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso have announced a joint bid to host the 2032 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), signalling a new chapter of regional cooperation among the three Alliance of Sahel States (AES) members.

The Malian Football Federation disclosed in a statement that officials from the three countries met with Confederation of African Football (CAF) President Patrice Motsepe in New York on Saturday to discuss plans for a joint bid to stage Africa's premier football tournament.

According to the federation, the meeting marked "a pivotal stage in the bidding process," paving the way for the three football associations to begin the formal procedures outlined in CAF's regulations for the selection of the 2032 AFCON host.

The federation added that the three associations are committed to preparing "a robust, credible bid that embodies a new vision for African football."

The bid comes as the three neighbouring countries, all governed by military administrations following coups, continue to face persistent security challenges linked to jihadist insurgencies that have claimed thousands of lives across the Sahel region.

Despite these challenges, the countries are seeking to leverage football as a platform for regional integration and continental development.

Burkina Faso previously hosted the Africa Cup of Nations in 1998, while Mali staged the tournament in 2002. Niger is yet to host the biennial competition.

On infrastructure, Mali currently boasts five CAF-approved stadiums, strengthening the joint bid. Burkina Faso also enhanced its credentials after CAF approved its main stadium in Ouagadougou in 2025.

Meanwhile, Niger is upgrading the General Seyni Kountche Stadium, which has been unable to host international matches since 2022, as part of efforts to meet CAF standards ahead of the proposed 2032 tournament.

If approved, the joint proposal would represent another milestone in CAF's growing acceptance of multi-country hosting and could become the first AFCON jointly staged by the three Sahel nations.