Guinea revives AFCON dream with bid to host 2032 and 2036 tournaments

Guinea has officially entered the race to host the 2032 and 2036 editions of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), reviving its ambition to stage Africa’s biggest football tournament after losing the right to host the 2025 competition.

Prime Minister Bah Oury formally submitted the country’s candidacy, marking Guinea’s first official bid since its unsuccessful attempt to organise the tournament originally awarded for 2025.

The move comes after the Confederation of African Football (CAF) opened the bidding process for the 2028, 2032 and 2036 AFCON tournaments, inviting all 54 member associations to compete under a new framework designed to ensure a transparent and credible selection process.

Second attempt after 2025 setback

Guinea’s latest bid represents an effort to revive a project that suffered a major setback four years ago.

The country was stripped of hosting rights for the 2025 AFCON after delays in delivering key infrastructure, including stadiums, transport networks and accommodation facilities required to host the expanded 24-team tournament.

CAF subsequently awarded the 2025 finals to Morocco, while Guinea was forced to reassess its long-term sporting infrastructure plans.

By targeting the 2032 and 2036 editions instead, Guinean authorities are signalling confidence that they will have sufficient time to complete the investments needed to meet CAF’s hosting standards.

Infrastructure remains the biggest challenge

While the government’s ambition is clear, significant questions remain over whether Guinea can deliver the scale of infrastructure required for a modern AFCON.

CAF’s hosting framework places heavy emphasis on stadium quality, transport connectivity, accommodation capacity, medical facilities and security arrangements.

Many of the projects initially proposed for the abandoned 2025 tournament remain incomplete, meaning the country will need substantial investment if it is to convince CAF’s evaluation teams.

Competition for future hosting rights

Guinea is unlikely to have the field to itself.

Several countries have already expressed interest in hosting future AFCON tournaments, with some nations pursuing joint bids to strengthen their chances.

The new bidding cycle marks a significant shift in CAF’s scheduling, with the tournament moving to a four-year hosting cycle beginning with the 2028 edition.

For Guinea, the bid represents more than an attempt to host a football tournament.

It is also an opportunity to rebuild confidence after the disappointment of losing the 2025 finals and to demonstrate that the country can deliver one of Africa’s largest sporting events if given another chance.