Africa Cup of Nations 2023

The countdown for the African Cup of Nations is nearly over, and most fans can’t wait to watch their country and favorite players compete for glory. Saturday, January 13, 2024, marks the kickoff of the Africa Cup of Nations, featuring a thrilling opening match between the host nation, Ivory Coast vs Guinea-Bissau. Let’s explore the necessary details about AFCON 2023 as the tournament begins.

Brief Overview of the Africa Cup of Nations

The AFCON tournament has grown so much in popularity over the last few years, attracting the attention of football fans in Kenya and worldwide. It’s the pinnacle of African football and has played a significant role in bringing the spotlight into African football. When the competition starts, fans from Europe, Asia, America, and other parts of the world tune in to watch famous stars who also play for their beloved club.

AFCON offers more than just football; it showcases the rich African culture and tradition of the world. You’d see teams rock their traditional attire during photoshoots and fans turning up to games wearing cultural paintings and dancing to cultural music. It often seems like a carnival uniting and celebrating the diversity of African culture.

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When and Where will be AFCON 2023

Ivory Coast is set to host the 34th AFCON from January 13 to February 11, 2024. The tournament was initially slated for 2023 but was rescheduled to 2024 due to weather issues. Speaking of the host country, Ivory Coast is one of the most successful and influential nations in African football, having won the African Cup of Nations twice in 1992 and 2015. It has produced some of the continent’s greatest players, such as Didier Drogba, Yaya Toure, and Youssouf Fofana.

Hosting Stadiums

Six standard stadiums in Ivory Coast are set to host the games. Most of them have over 20,000 capacity and modern facilities. Here are the AFCON stadiums:

Laurent Pokou Stadium

The San Pedro stadium, named in honor of Ivorian legend Laurent Pokou, a renowned striker from the 1970s, stands southwest of Côte d’Ivoire. This 20,000-capacity venue is set to host prominent nations, including Morocco, Mali, and the DR Congo, during AFCON 2023.

Stade Amadou Gon
Coulibaly

Located in the northern town of Korhogo, this popular stadium is named after the former Ivory Coast prime minister Amadou Gon Coulibaly.Its a newly built stadium that will host many games during AFCON 2023.

Stade de la Paix (Bouaké)

The Stade de la Paix, inaugurated in 1984 and recently renovated, is the third-largest stadium in the competition, with a capacity of over 40,000. It’s located in Bouaké, one of the host cities for the 2023 African Cup of Nations, in the heart of Ivory Coast.

Charles Konan Banny Stadium

Yamoussoukro, the capital of Ivory Coast, is home to the Stade Charles Konan Banny stadium. It features ultra-modern facilities and can accommodate around 20,000 people. That is where Senegal will start their defense of the championship.

Felix Houphouet-Boigny Stadium

The Felix Houphouët-Boigny Stadium is situated in the Plateau area of Abidjan.

It can accommodate nearly 45,000 people and often holds club games for ASEC Mimosas and the Elephants of Côte d’Ivoire.

Alassane Ouattara Olympic Stadium

Formerly known as Stade Olympique, the Stade Alassane Ouattara is the largest stadium at the African Cup of Nations 2023. It has an impressive seating capacity of 60,000 and is set to host the tournament’s final on February 11, 2024. 

Where to Watch AFCON on TV

Startimes has secured rights to air the AFCON 2023 games in Kenya. So, every subscriber to the TV company can tune in to watch the 52 games. Also, SuperSport will be airing all the games live, despite the initial scare that the TV broadcasting giant won’t show the games. Kenya football fans can subscribe to these services and watch the games.

Which teams have qualified for AFCON 2023

Twenty-four teams will play in the AFCON 2023. Here are the qualified teams:

AFCON 2023 Fixtures

The tournament will kick-start with the host country, Ivory Coast, facing Guinea Bissau. Here’s the complete group stage fixture for all the AFCON teams:

AFCON 2023 Favorite Players

Many quality players will be on show at the AFCON 2023 and will be looking to be the difference maker for their teams. Let’s explore some top players tipped to impress and possibly lead their country to the title:

Victor Osimhen (Nigeria)

Newly crowned African best player of the year, Victor Osimhen, is one of the stars to watch during the AFCON 2023. Many punters and fans tip him to lead his country, Nigeria, to glory. Just last season, Victor Osimhen led his club, Napoli, to their first Serie A title in thirty-three years as the division’s top scorer. One thing is clear: if Nigeria is to lift the AFCON trophy high on February 11th, Victor Osimhen will play a pivotal role.

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Mohamed Salah (Egypt)

Most football fans in Kenya will agree that there are not many players better than Mo Salah in world football currently. The question is, will Mo Salah deliver for his country, Egypt, during the AFCON tournament and lead them to their first title since 2010? By his current form, fans expect him to light up the competition and bag the Best Player award.

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Mohammed Kudus (Ghana)

Starboy Mohammed Kudus is one of the hottest players in the Premier League this season. He has six goals and one assist for West Ham this season in the English Premier League. Everything indicates that Mohammed Kudus will be one of the players to watch during the AFCON 2023 tournament.

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Sadio Mane (Senegal)

Senegalese star Sadio Mane will be looking to lead his country to back-to-back AFCON titles. He played a starring role in the tournament’s last edition, leading his country to their first title while being the best player. Senegalese fans and players will hope he comes into the competition without distraction as they compete for glory.

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Riyad Mahrez (Algeria)

The Algerian national team captain, Riyad Mahrez, will aim to lead his country to yet another AFCON title. After an underwhelming outing during the 2021 edition, he and his country will look to bounce back. He’ll aim to be at the center of the action for his country during the tournament, just like he was when they won the 2019 edition.

Why Kenya is not joining AFCON 2023

Kenya will not be participating in the AFCON 2023 tournament because of the suspension from FIFA due to political interference. Also, Zimbabwe was hit with the same suspension, preventing both countries from participating in the AFCON qualification process.

How to Bet on AFCON 2023 from Kenya

AFCON History

Established in 1957 by the Confederation of African Football (CAF), the African Cup of Nations is Africa’s oldest and most prestigious football tournament. The inaugural edition, held in Sudan in 1957, featured only three teams: Egypt, Ethiopia, and Sudan. Egypt emerged as the first champion by defeating Ethiopia 4-0 in the final.

Over the years, the AFCON has expanded in both size and format. Initially with three teams, it grew to nine in 1962 and 22 in 1968. Presently, the competition accommodates 24 qualifying nations, making it more competitive and allowing more countries to participate.

Past Winners

Senegal is the defending champion of AFCON, having won the 2021 edition. Here’s a list of the past winners:

Important Achievements

The AFCON has also witnessed some of the most memorable and historic moments in African football. Here are some of them:

Egypt’s Treble

The era of Egypt’s dominance in the AFCON is truly historic and remarkable. They won three consecutive titles in 2006, 2008, and 2010. Egypt also holds the record for the most wins (7), the most appearances (25), and the most matches played (107).

Cameroonian Domination

From 1980 to 1990, Cameroon demonstrated remarkable prowess in the AFCON, reaching the final three consecutive times. They secured victory in 1984 and 1988 but faced defeat in the 1986 edition, losing on penalties to Egypt. Cameroon has won the tournament five times, including two consecutive titles in 2000 and 2002. Moreover, Cameroon’s legendary striker, Samuel Eto’o, is the all-time top scorer of the AFCON, with 18 goals.

Conclusion

The excitement for the AFCON 2023 is already building, and many fans are eager to cheer for their countries and favorite players. Participating teams will be keen to put on a show and make their country proud when the tournament ends in February.

Kenyan fans can easily tune into broadcasting channels like SuperSports and enjoy the games. One thing is sure: AFCON 2023 will deliver excitement and betting opportunities for fans.

FAQs

• How to watch AFCON 2023 matches in Kenya? +
  Kenya football fans can watch AFCON 2023 matches on SuperSports, which will air the competition live. Despite initially saying they didn’t secure rights to broadcast the competition, the broadcasting service made a U-turn and will broadcast the 52 games live. Also, the top broadcasting service, Startimes, will air the AFCON games live. All you need to do is subscribe to the service, and you’re good to go. Other notable international broadcasting services like SkySports, BBC, Bein Football, and more will also show all the games.
• When is AFCON 2023? +
  The AFCON 2023 starts on January 13th, 2024, and ends on February 11th. It was initially designed to be held in 2023 but was rescheduled due to the rainy season in West Africa during the summer period. Notably, the 2023 African Cup of Nations will be held in Ivory Coast, with twenty-four nations aiming to be champions. The teams will be divided into six groups of four (A to F), with the group winners and runner-up advancing to the knockout phase.
• Why is Kenya not playing in the AFCON 2023 tournament? +
  Kenya will miss the AFCON 2023 tournament because of the suspension of the Federation by FIFA. The international football governing body suspended the Kenyan Football Federation and that of Zimbabwe for interference from the country’s government. Due to the ban, Kenya couldn’t participate in the AFCON qualifiers and, hence, is unable to play in the tournament. However, FIFA has since lifted the ban, but it came too late. Thus, Kenya will have to wait for the next edition of the AFCON tournament.
• Who are the favorites to win the AFCON 2023 tournament? +
  There are a handful of favorites tipped to take home the AFCON 2023 crown. Nigeria is at the top of the list of top teams tipped to become champions because of the number of stars and the country’s prowess in African football. The country has top players like Victor Osimhen, Alex Iwobi, Samuel Chukwueze, and many others who are desperate to win the title for their country. Other top teams that can emerge winners include Egypt, Senegal, and the tournament host, Ivory Coast.

Emmanuella Oluwafemi

Emmanuella Oluwafemi is your ace for captivating sports betting and online casino content. With a flair for spinning words like reels, my writing shuffles through the world of online casino gaming and sports betting with wit and expertise.

As an iGaming writer for a decade and counting, every piece is a chance to create content that’s not just a gamble, but a guaranteed win for the audience!