Get ready for the football extravaganza of the year as Ivory Coast plays host to the most anticipated event on the African continent – the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON)!
This football fiesta, despite being officially named AFCON 2024, is set to ignite the passion of fans and showcase the prowess of Africa’s elite teams.
Originally slated for the summer, the tournament’s kick-off was strategically rescheduled from January 13 to February 11, 2024, by the Confederation of African Football due to weather concerns in the vibrant host nation.
Now in its 34th edition, AFCON has evolved from a modest three-team start in 1957 to a colossal gathering of 24 teams battling for glory.
The participating nations, including football powerhouses like Algeria, Egypt, Ghana, and Senegal, are gearing up for fierce competition.
Six groups, each comprising four teams, will engage in a thrilling round-robin stage, followed by knockout clashes featuring group winners, runners-up, and the top four third-placed teams.
The grand finale is slated to unfold at the Alassane Ouattara Stadium in Abidjan, the largest city in Ivory Coast.
All eyes will be on Liverpool’s prolific striker, Mohamed Salah, who is likely to lead Egypt’s charge for a record-breaking eighth title after six consecutive near misses.
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Sadio Mane, the star of Senegal and Al-Nasr in Saudi Arabia, is set to defend the African crown.
Remembering his heroics in AFCON 2021, where he secured victory with a crucial penalty, Mane expressed his determination on the CAF website.
“We understand that it won’t be an easy task, but we will be there to give our best and strive to advance through each round.”
SuperSport, Africa’s premier sports broadcaster, has secured exclusive rights to broadcast all 52 matches, ensuring fans across the continent don’t miss a moment of the action.
The tournament kicks off with the hosts facing Guinea-Bissau on Saturday in what promises to be an electrifying encounter.
Excitement doesn’t end on the pitch, as CAF has announced a substantial 40% increase in prize money.
The winner will walk away with a whopping USD 7,000,000, while the runner-up will take home USD 4,000,000.
Semi-finalists and quarter-finalists will also be rewarded handsomely.
As we eagerly anticipate the showdown in Ivory Coast, let’s not forget the underdog stories.
Having never advanced beyond the group stages, they strive to rewrite their football narrative in this edition of the prestigious tournament.
The stage is set, the teams are ready, and the drama is about to unfold – AFCON 2023 is football’s grand spectacle, and you won’t want to miss a kick!
