The 2023 Africa Cup features many surprises during the tournament.

Little information about the 2023 Africa Cup can be found in the newspapers. Many surprises and spectacular football from the African continent can be seen live on Ziggo Sport (TV). Major countries including Egypt, Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Senegal, Ghana, and Cameroon have already been eliminated, and coaches have been sacked after failing to advance in the tournament.

Africa Cup of Nations

The Africa Cup of Nations, also known as the TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations for sponsorship reasons, or simply AFCON or CAN, is the premier international football competition for countries in Africa. It is sanctioned by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and was first held in 1957. Since 1968, it has been held every two years, and in 2013, it switched to odd-numbered years.

Egypt is the most successful country in the history of the cup, having won the tournament seven times. Three trophies have been awarded in the history of the tournament, with Cameroon winning five and Ghana four. The current trophy was first awarded in 2002. Egypt won no fewer than three consecutive titles in 2006, 2008, and 2010. In 2013, the tournament format was changed to odd-numbered years to avoid disrupting the FIFA World Cup. Senegal is the current champion of the tournament and defeated Egypt on penalties in the 2021 final.  

Africa Cup of Nations 2023

The 2023 Africa Cup of Nations is the current 34th edition of the Africa Cup of Nations. It is organized by Ivory Coast and is taking place in the country for the second time after the 1984 tournament. This edition of the tournament was initially planned for the summer of 2023, making it the third since 2019 to take place during the Northern Hemisphere summer, in order to reduce scheduling conflicts with European club teams and leagues. Most African footballers play in European leagues.

Although the tournament retained its original brand name for sponsorship purposes with the year 2023 in the title, it was moved to January 13–February 11, 2024, at the request of Ivory Coast and the CAF, to avoid the tropical rainy season in West and Central Africa, which typically reaches its peak around June–July.  

Our sites Ivory Coast

CAF has set the following requirements for the expected six stadiums for this edition of the tournament: number of stadiums / capacity (minimum): 2 / 40.000; 2 / 20.000; 2 / 15.000. In September 2017, the Government of Ivory Coast launched a public tender for the venues of the match. This included public tenders for the renovation and expansion of the existing Felix Houphouët Boigny Stadium in Abidjan and the Stade de la Paix (Peace Stadium) in Bouaké, and the construction of new stadiums in Yamoussoukro and the cities of Korhogo and San Pedro. The three new stadiums would each have a capacity of 20.000.

In addition to the renovation or construction of stadiums, the tender included the renovation or construction of training facilities in the host cities: eight in Abidjan and four in Bouaké, Korhogo, Yamoussoukro, and San Pedro. It also included the construction of 96 villas (five rooms per villa) in those cities. Furthermore, the bidding countries were required to build a three-star hotel with fifty rooms in Korhogo. Ultimately, matches are played in 5 cities with 6 stadiums: Abidjan, Bouaké, Korhogo, San Pedro, and Yamoussoukro.  

Semi-finals, 3rd/4th place and Final

Four more matches will be played. Two semi-finals (February 7), 3rd and 4th place (February 10), and the Final (February 11). All matches can be watched live on Ziggo Sport (TV). Semi-final: Nigeria – South Africa Nigeria The Nigerian national football team represents Nigeria in international football. They are governed by the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) and are three-time winners of the Africa Cup of Nations, with their most recent title in 2013. In April 1994, the Nigerian national football team was ranked fifth in the FIFA rankings, the highest FIFA ranking position ever achieved by an African football team. Throughout history, the team has qualified for six of the last eight FIFA World Cups, missing only the 2006 and 2022 editions. They have reached the Round of 16 three times. Their first World Cup appearance was the 1994 edition. The team is a member of FIFA and the Confederation of African Football (CAF). Nigeria is ranked 42nd in the FIFA rankings.

South Africa The South African national football team represents South Africa in international football. They are governed by the South African Football Association. The team's nickname is Bafana Bafana (The Boys), and South Africa's home ground is the FNB Stadium, located in Johannesburg. The team's greatest achievement was winning the Africa Cup of Nations at home in 1996. The team is a member of both FIFA and the Confederation of African Football (CAF).

After playing their first match in 1906, they returned to the world stage in 1992, following a sixteen-year exclusion from FIFA and a forty-year effective suspension due to the apartheid system. South Africa became the first African country to host the FIFA World Cup when it was granted host status for the 2010 edition. As of June 29, 2023, the team is ranked 12th in Africa (CAF) and 66th in FIFA.   Semi-final: Ivory Coast – DR Congo. Ivory Coast The national football team of Ivory Coast represents Ivory Coast in international football. The team, nicknamed the Elephants, is governed by the Ivorian Football Federation (FIF). Until 2005, their greatest achievement was winning the 1992 African Cup of Nations against Ghana on penalties at the Stade Léopold Sédar Senghor in Dakar (Senegal). Their second success came in 2015, when they defeated Ghana again on penalties in Bata (Equatorial Guinea). The team experienced its best performance between 2006 and 2015 when they qualified for three consecutive FIFA World Cups and won the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations. The team represents both FIFA and the Confederation of African Football (CAF). Ivory Coast is ranked 49th in the FIFA rankings.

  DR Congo The DR Congo national football team, recognized by FIFA as DR Congo, represents the Democratic Republic of Congo in international football and is managed by the Congolese Football Association. They are also one of the most successful teams in the African Nations Championship, with two titles in 1968 (Congo-Leopoldville) and 1974 (Zaire).

They are nicknamed Les Léopards: The Leopards. The team is a member of FIFA and the Confederation of African Football (CAF). They are currently ranked 67th in the FIFA rankings.  

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CAF online: https://www.cafonline.com/caf-africa-cup-of-nations/ Ziggo Sport: https://www.ziggosport.nl/afrikacup/