Mali's second city is a stopping-off point for travellers heading up-country by both road and river.
As well as the purpose-built stadium on the edge of town, there is the old sports arena in the city centre which will be used as a training pitch.
Like the other venues outside Bamako, a players' village has been built to house the teams for the duration of the tournament.
After the final, they will be sold off to private buyers.