Match format, venues, title favourites, teams and prize cash for AFCON 2023 in Ivory Coast.
The Confederation of African Soccer’s (CAF’s) extremely anticipated African Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2023 is ready to kick off on January 13 within the Ivory Coast, the place the continent’s largest stars are anticipated to shine after a powerful exhibiting for his or her respective golf equipment and the Qatar World Cup 2022.
The event boasts 5 groups from the event in Qatar, with semifinalists on the world showpiece – Morocco – the red-hot favourites to develop into the champions of Africa.
Right here’s what you have to know concerning the upcoming AFCON:
Who’re the hosts?
The African Cup of Nations takes place in Ivory Coast for a second time.
Matches can be held at six stadiums throughout 5 cities.
The capital, Abidjan, affords two venues – the Felix Houphouet-Boigny Stadium and the Alassane Ouattara Stadium, which will even host the ultimate.
Yamoussoukro, Bouake, Korhogo and San Pedro will host the remaining fixtures.
All-time #TotalEnergiesAFCON stats for the 2023 hosts Côte d’Ivoire. 📝
How will these change by the top of #TotalEnergiesAFCON2023? ☄️ pic.twitter.com/UVPxBtXYzp
— CAF (@CAF_Online) November 5, 2023
Which groups have certified?
- Group A – Ivory Coast, Nigeria, Equatorial Guinea, and Guinea-Bissau
- Group B – Egypt, Ghana, Cape Verde, and Mozambique
- Group C – Senegal, Cameroon, Guinea, and The Gambia
- Group D – Algeria, Burkina Faso, Mauritania, and Angola
- Group E – Tunisia, Mali, South Africa, and Namibia
- Group F – Morocco, DR Congo, Zambia, and Tanzania
When are the opening fixtures?
Ivory Coast face Guinea-Bissau within the opening match on the Alassane Ouattara Stadium, Abidjan, on January 13 in Group A. The kickoff is at 20:00 GMT.
The host nation can have the give attention to the primary day, however after that, there can be a minimal of two video games per day by means of the group stage.
On match-day two, Nigeria tackle Equatorial Guinea at 14:00 GMT to finish the primary spherical of fixtures in Group A, with the sport once more being performed on the Alassane Ouattara Stadium.
Abidjan stays the main focus for the following two video games of the day as Egypt meet Mozambique earlier than Ghana open towards Cape Verde. Each Group B video games can be performed on the Felix Houphouet-Boigny Stadium that day, with kickoff instances of 15:00 GMT and 20:00 GMT, respectively.
How does the group stage work?
The highest two groups in every group and the 4 best-ranked third-placed groups will advance to the final 16.
The underside groups and the 2 worst-ranked third-placed groups in every group can be eradicated from the event.
How does the knockout stage work?
There can be three relaxation days from January 24 earlier than the last-16 fixtures begin.
That is how the final 16 stage seems to be:
- Group D winners vs third place Group B/E/F
- Group A runners-up vs Group C runners-up
- Group A winners vs third place Group C/D/E
- Group B second place vs Group F runners-up
- Group B winners vs third place Group A/C/D
- Group C winners vs third Place Group A/B/F
- Group E winners vs Group D runners-up
- Group F winners vs Group E runners-up
Who’re the previous winners?
Egypt are the document winners in AFCON’s historical past with seven titles. They have been additionally runners-up most not too long ago, in 2017 and 2021.
Cameroon are the second most profitable crew with 5 wins.
Ghana have lifted the trophy on 4 events however not since 1982. That also, nevertheless, will irk their West African rivals, Nigeria, who’ve claimed the title 3 times.
Hosts Ivory Coast, Algeria (winners in 2019) and DR Congo have two wins every.
Senegal are defending their solely Africa Cup of Nations crown, whereas Morocco, the highest-ranked nation, have additionally solely been topped winners as soon as, and that was in 1976. Tunisia, Zambia, Sudan, Ethiopia, South Africa and the Republic of the Congo have additionally lifted the title on one event.
Fixed #TotalEnergiesAFCON contributors! 📝
Does your nation make it to the checklist? 👀 pic.twitter.com/nqPd3nkG1x
— CAF (@CAF_Online) October 7, 2023
Who’re the favourites?
World Cup semifinalists Morocco are the clear favourites as they appear to finish a virtually 40-year wait for his or her second AFCON crown.
The 1976 winners are the highest-ranked crew on the event.
Reigning champions Senegal and the crew they defeated within the final version, Egypt, are anticipated to be the groups to push them closest.
Nigeria boast the squad with probably the most depth.
How a lot is the prize cash?
There can be a 40 p.c enhance within the prize cash for the winners of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.
The winners of the most recent version in Ivory Coast will obtain 5.5 million kilos ($7m).
The runners-up will get 3.165 million kilos ($4m), with every of the 2 semifinalists receiving 1.979 million kilos ($2.5m) and the 4 quarterfinalists taking 1.029 million kilos ($1.3m) every.
The place can the matches be watched?
World listings can be found from livesoccertv.com.
