Faith Nyasuguta
The AFCON 2023 tournament, set to take place in Ivory Coast in January, is now well-prepared, with recently renovated stadiums showcased to the press by sporting authorities.
François Albert Amichia, President of COCAN, the Ivorian Organising Committee for the Africa Cup of Nations, emphasized their mission to organize and deliver the necessary operations and infrastructure for the tournament’s success.
The goal extends beyond the event itself, aiming to unite the public and the nation’s economic forces, leaving a lasting legacy in terms of services and sports infrastructure.
The tournament, featuring 52 matches, will unfold across five cities: Abidjan, Yamoussoukro, Bouaké, San-Pedro, and Korhogo, with dedicated fan zones in each host city. Yacine Idriss Diallo,
President of the Ivorian Football Federation, emphasized the importance of ensuring security and a high quality of life in Abidjan. He expressed the intention to showcase the universally acknowledged sweetness of Abidjan to all foreigners attending the event.
This marks the second time Côte d’Ivoire hosts the Africa Cup of Nations finals, and Yacine Idriss Diallo highlighted the significant progress made in the country’s sports infrastructure over the past 15 years.
Previously, Ivory Coast had no stadiums, and matches were played away from home. The commitment to providing a conducive environment for the nation’s youth demonstrates the president’s understanding of the importance of fostering their development.
AFCON 2023 is scheduled to take place from January 13 to February 11, 2024, in Ivory Coast, where 24 teams will vie for the continental title.
The preparations underscore the nation’s dedication to hosting a successful and memorable tournament, leaving a lasting impact on both sports and the community.
At the same time, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) has insisted that Guinea will host the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations and rejected knowledge of any bid from Nigeria to co-host the event.
Amaju Pinnick, the president of the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF), was quoted saying that Nigeria had submitted an application to co-host the 2025 AFCON, citing the political climate in Guinea, which has been governed by the military since a coup in 2021.
A senior CAF official maintained that neither his organization nor Guinean football officials discussed moving the event elsewhere as certain media stories have suggested.
“The host for the 2025 tournament remains Guinea and that has not changed,” he told BBC Sport Africa.
“We’ve not discussed anything about a replacement or received any communication from Guinea about the inability to host. At this very moment, everything is on track for Guinea to host and there is no reason to suggest otherwise.”
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