Niger Evaluates CAN 2032 Bid with CAF Mission

Authorities in Niger recently hosted a mission from the Confederation of African Football (CAF) to assess the country's bid to co-host the 2032 African Cup of Nations (CAN) with Mali and Burkina Faso. The CAF mission, led by Basegeta Avellin, visited Niamey from November 8-9 to evaluate the Niger's bid. During their stay, they reviewed presentations on Niger's candidacy, including the country's football infrastructure and security arrangements.

The CAF mission inspected various hotel infrastructures to assess their capacity and amenities. They visited the Radisson Blu, Noom, Gawèye, Grand Hôtel, and Bravia hotels. On the second day, they inspected sports facilities, including the General Seyni Kountché Stadium, which is currently under renovation, as well as the Municipal Stadium and the National Technical Center.

The mission also evaluated healthcare infrastructure, specifically the General Reference Hospital. After completing their inspections, they met with the Minister of Youth, Sports, and Culture for a briefing. Issaka Adamou, President of the Nigerien Football Federation (FENIFOOT), expressed satisfaction with the mission's visit, stating that they had provided detailed explanations of their bid.

Adamou explained that the mission aimed to assess Niger's bid and verify the accuracy of the information provided. He noted that the mission had reviewed Niger's co-hosting bid with Mali and Burkina Faso, which included explanations of their plans and existing infrastructure. The FENIFOOT president emphasized that the mission's visit provided an opportunity for CAF to ask questions and clarify details.

The Nigerien football authorities have submitted a joint bid with Mali and Burkina Faso to host the 2032 CAN. The bid includes various categories of infrastructure, which were evaluated during the mission's visit. Although the CAF mission did not make a public statement, Adamou expressed optimism about the outcome.

The evaluation mission is a crucial step in the bid process, as CAF assesses the feasibility of each candidate's proposal. Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso face competition from other countries bidding to host the 2032 CAN. The successful bid will be announced at a later date.

The Nigerien government's support for the bid was evident in the high-level meeting with the Minister of Youth, Sports, and Culture. The country's football authorities remain hopeful that their joint bid with Mali and Burkina Faso will be successful. Key points of the bid include the country's football infrastructure, security arrangements, and healthcare facilities.

Key points

• Niger hosts CAF mission to evaluate joint CAN 2032 bid with Mali and Burkina Faso
• CAF mission assesses Niger's football infrastructure, security arrangements, and healthcare facilities
• Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso face competition from other countries bidding to host the 2032 CAN