AFCON2023 Countdown: 5 things you need to know

With the highly anticipated TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations, AFCON2023, around the corner, football lovers across the continent and beyond are set for a month of sporting entertainment. 

Cote d’Ivoire, the host nation, has prepared itself to welcome the rest of Africa and the world to what is expected to be a spectacle and unforgettable tournament, filled with historic moments, celebrations and intense football rivalries. 

However, before the competition gets underway on January 13th at the Alassane Ouattara Stadium in Abidjan, Pulse Sports will guide you through a comprehensive list of facts to know about the 34th edition of CAF’s elite football fiesta also known as Cote d’Ivoire 2023.

West African nation, Ivory Coast, will host the AFCON for only the second time in its history, with the first time being in 1984.

The 2023 tournament will get off the mark with Cote d’Ivoire going head-to-head against Guinea-Bissau at the Alassane Ouattara Stadium in Abidjan on Saturday.

AFCON 2023 has a mascot known as ‘Akwaba’, symbolising ‘welcome’ in the Baoule language.

Akwaba is represented by an elephant in Cote d’Ivoire’s home colours, with the official match ball also one paying tribute to an Ivorian legend.

The official match ball is called ‘Pokou’ - a tribute to the legendary Ivorian striker Laurent Pokou.

The 2023 AFCON has an official theme song, Akwaba, featuring Nigerian Afrobeat star, Yemi Alade, Mohamed Ramadan, and Magic System.

Akwaba, the song, sees a palette of Afrobeat, rap and Zouglou, per a CAF report, and also combines a unique celebration of the tournament’s tradition.

The AFCON has a new format, with 24 teams divided into six groups of four each. The top two teams from each group are expected to progress to the next round, alongside the four best-ranked third-placed teams.

In terms of some of the exciting matchups, Cote d’Ivoire vs Nigeria, Egypt vs Ghana, Senegal vs Cameroon, and Nigeria vs Equatorial Guinea look to be the standout games for the first phase. 

Of course, the 2023 tournament will see defending champions, Senegal, stand out of the favourites for bookmakers. 

The Teranga Lions are, however, not alone on this, with the Atlas Lions of Morocco, hosts, Cote d’Ivoire, and Nigeria also legitimate pre-tournament favourites. 

Cote d’Ivoire will kick off on January 13th and end on February 11, with both opener and final match slated for the Alassane Ouattara Stadium in Abidjan.