CAF confirms date for 2023 AFCON

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has announced the dates for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) to be held in Cote d’Ivoire.

The tournament will begin with the opening match at the newly constructed Alassane Quatara Stadium in Ebimpe, Abidjan on January 13, 2024. The final match will be played on February 11, 2024, at the same venue.

According to CAF, 24 teams from across the continent will participate in the four-week-long competition. Six countries, namely Algeria, Morocco, South Africa, Tunisia, Burkina Faso, Senegal, and hosts Cote d’Ivoire, have already secured their places in the biennial tournament.

The Super Eagles, Nigeria’s national football team, could join the qualified teams if they manage to pick a draw in their upcoming game against the Leone Stars of Sierra Leone during the qualifiers in June.

The final draw of the 2023 AFCON will be held in September 2023, with the exact date and venue to be announced by CAF at a later time.

The announcement of the kick-off and final dates has generated excitement among football fans in Africa, who have been eagerly waiting for the competition after the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted the 2021 edition of the tournament, which was scheduled to take place in Cameroon.