Guinea is back in the race to host the Africa Cup of Nations. After withdrawing its bid for the 2025 edition, the West African country is now targeting either the 2032 or 2036 tournament, with the official application set to be submitted on Friday, August 21, 2026.
Guinea officially enters the race
The announcement was made by Prime Minister Bah Oury on social media and later confirmed by Sports Minister Sellou Baldé.
“Guinea will indeed be a candidate to host the Africa Cup of Nations, either in 2032 or 2036,” Baldé said.
According to the minister, the Prime Minister signed the official letter of application on behalf of President Mamady Doumbouya. The document is due to be formally submitted at 3:00 p.m. GMT during a ceremony involving the government and the ministries concerned.
The move reflects the authorities’ ambition to make hosting AFCON a national priority.
Stade du 28-Septembre strengthens Guinea’s ambitions
Guinea’s renewed bid comes after the recent approval of Conakry’s Stade du 28-Septembre, an important development for the country’s football ambitions.
Having a stadium meeting the standards of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) represents a significant step, although Guinea will still need to demonstrate that it can provide the broader infrastructure required to host the continental tournament.
The country previously sought to host AFCON 2025 before abandoning its bid. It is now hoping to make a fresh attempt with 2032 or 2036 as its targets.
Strong competition for 2032
If Guinea opts for the 2032 edition, it could face strong competition.
Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger, the three members of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), have jointly expressed their intention to host AFCON 2032. The three countries submitted a declaration of interest on July 18, 2026, during a meeting in New York on the sidelines of the FIFA World Cup final.
Senegal has also been mentioned as a potential contender for the 2032 tournament.
Infrastructure remains the key challenge
Guinea’s announcement is only the beginning of the process. A successful AFCON bid requires much more than a single approved stadium.
CAF will assess the country’s ability to provide stadiums, training facilities, hotels, transport infrastructure, security and other logistical requirements needed to host a major continental tournament.
The authorities in Conakry will therefore have to turn their political ambition into a comprehensive and convincing bid.
Guinea seeks a fresh start after 2025
After withdrawing from the race for AFCON 2025, Guinea is now looking to revive its ambitions of hosting Africa’s premier football tournament.
2032 or 2036 could offer Conakry a new opportunity to stage AFCON, but the country will have to overcome strong competition and present a bid capable of meeting CAF’s demanding requirements.
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