Three military-led nations, one massive football dream — can the Sahel pull off Africa’s biggest tournament?

Here’s one you didn’t see coming.

Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger have officially thrown their hats in the ring to co-host the 2032 Africa Cup of Nations. Yes, all three at once.

And yes, all three are currently run by military governments — which makes this bid a lot more than just football.

According to cbinews.tv, the joint bid came after CAF opened applications for the 2028, 2032 and 2036 tournaments. Mali’s football federation says the plan is all about “solidarity, regional integration and sustainable development” for the African game, and they’ll be working with the relevant authorities to put together a proper proposal.

If you’ve been following regional politics, you’ll know the backstory. The three countries quit ECOWAS last year and formed their own club — the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) — focused on security, trade and infrastructure. Now they’re trying to add football to that list.

The big question? Security.

All three nations are still battling jihadist insurgencies and have shifted away from Western military partners towards closer ties with Russia. So naturally, when CAF President Patrice Motsepe was asked if they’d need serious security guarantees, he didn’t dodge it.

He said the three countries “will have as good a chance as everybody else” and won’t be disadvantaged “because they are military juntas”. But — and it’s a big but — safety questions “will have to be addressed”.

Motsepe added that CAF has to “deal with reality” while still insisting that democracy, free speech and elections remain “non-negotiable”. He’s planning to visit all three countries soon to talk football.

The final call isn’t his alone though. That sits with CAF’s executive committee, who will want cast-iron guarantees on fan safety, free movement and infrastructure.

Fun bit of context: Burkina Faso hosted AFCON back in 1998 and Mali did it in 2002. The 2027 edition in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda will be the first ever with three co-hosts, so this wouldn’t be totally new territory.

From 2028, AFCON moves to a four-year cycle, and Motsepe says CAF has already had some “exciting bids” for future tournaments and might even expand it from 24 to 28 teams.

Meanwhile, off the pitch, the AES bloc is building its own media game. On Tuesday, Burkina Faso’s transitional parliament approved two new joint outlets — Daande Liptako Radio and Tafouk TV — to promote the alliance.

Football, politics, media — the Sahel is making some noise.

Credit: cbinews.tv

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