Last Thursday, October 12, the city of Abidjan, the Ivorian economic capital, hosted the draw for the most prestigious football competition on the continent. In front of an audience of personalities from various backgrounds, the ceremony hosted by the Senegalese-American singer Akon and the Ivorian host Konnie Touré revealed all the cultural richness of Africa.
10 years later, Ivory Coast is ready
It was on September 20, 2014 that the Confederation of African Football (CAF) designated Côte d’Ivoire as the host country of the 34th edition of the African Cup of Nations. Initially scheduled for 2023, the competition was postponed by a year, firstly because of Covid19 which modified the calendar of all sports competitions in the world but also because of the initial date which coincided with the rainy season in Ivory Coast. The competition will therefore finally take place from January 13 to February 11, 2024, a little over 3 weeks of competition.
Since 2014, the President of the Republic, Dramane Alassane Ouattara, has undertaken gigantic work to ensure that his country lives up to the event. Several stadiums were built. This is the case of the Alassane Ouattara stadium in Ebimpé in Abidjan which will host the opening match. Other stadiums have been renovated. Like the legendary Houphouët Boigny stadium. The head of state has undertaken the construction of several other infrastructures to beautify the country. This is the case of the Cocody bridge which has just been inaugurated and which is among the longest in Africa.
The different known groups
We are undoubtedly heading towards the most beautiful CAN in history. The organization’s challenge was met according to the Ivorian Football Federation (FIF). But on the field too, we will witness, from the group stage, high-level encounters and clashes of titans. The host country, Ivory Coast, will have a hard time facing the great Nigeria, three-time winner of the competition in group A. The other shock of this group stage will undoubtedly be the Lions’ duel. Indeed, the lions of Teranga of Senegal, reigning champion, will meet in group C, the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon. Five-time winner of the trophy.
Here is the complete draw for the group stages of the 34th edition of the CAN from January 13 to February 11, 2024:
Group A: Ivory Coast, Guinea-Bissau, Equatorial Guinea, Nigeria
Group B: Mozambique, Cape Verde, Ghana, Egypt
Group C: Gambia, Guinea, Cameroon, Senegal
Group D: Angola, Mauritania, Burkina Faso, Algeria
Group E: Namibia, South Africa, Mali, Tunisia
Group F: Tanzania, Zambia, Democratic Republic of Congo, Morocco
