2023 Africa Cup of Nations

The 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, known for short as the 2023 AFCON or CAN 2023 and for sponsorship purposes as the TotalEnergies 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, is scheduled to be the 34th edition of the biennial African association football tournament organized by Confederation of African Football. It will be hosted by Ivory Coast for the second time, and the first time since 1984.

2023 Africa Cup of Nations
Coupe d'Afrique des Nations 2023
Official logo[1]
Tournament details
Host countryIvory Coast
Dates13 January – 11 February 2024
Teams24
Venue(s)6 (in 5 host cities)

This edition of the tournament was initially planned to be the third since 2019 to take place during the Northern Hemisphere's summer, in order to reduce scheduling conflicts with European club teams and competitions.[2][3][4][5] However, on 3 July 2022, CAF postponed the tournament to 13 January – 11 February 2024 due to the adverse summer weather concerns in Ivory Coast, whilst retaining the edition's original name for sponsorship purposes.[6][7] This followed the 2021 edition in Cameroon also being moved to the winter for similar reasons.

Senegal are the defending champions.

Host selection

Bids

  • Algeria
  • Guinea (Guinea was originally awarded the 2023 tournament, but hosting duties were pushed back to 2025 after Cameroon hosted in 2021 instead of 2019 owing to non-readiness at the time. However, Guinea could not reach the deadline for tournament preparations and was later stripped of 2023 hosting rights on 30 September 2022; Morocco was selected as the replacement host on 27 September 2023.)
  • Ivory Coast (Ivory Coast was originally awarded the 2021 tournament, which was later pushed forward to 2023 following Cameroon hosting the 2021 edition. However, Ivory Coast later requested to CAF for the 2023 edition to be hosted in January–February 2024 to avoid the West and Central African tropical rain season which typically reaches its peak around June–July.)
  • Zambia

Rejected bids

  • Cameroon
  • Kenya
  • Sudan
  • Senegal

CAF initially announced the hosts for the 2019, 2021 and 2023 editions of Africa Cup of Nations after the final vote at its executive committee meeting on 20 September 2014, awarding the 2019 edition to Cameroon, the 2021 edition to Ivory Coast and the 2023 edition to Guinea.[8]

The announcement of the 2023 hosts was unscheduled. Guinea was one of the bidders for the 2019 and 2021 editions, whose host countries were scheduled to be announced on that day. A CAF spokesperson told BBC News that, on the basis of Guinea's presentation "and commitment", the committee "decided to exercise its power to make an immediate decision."[8]

Host change

On 30 November 2018, CAF stripped Cameroon from hosting the 2019 edition due to lack of speed of progress in hosting preparations,[9][10][11] but accepted former CAF President Ahmad Ahmad's request for Cameroon to stage the following edition in 2021. Consequently, the original hosts of 2021, Ivory Coast, would host the 2023 edition, and the original hosts of 2023, Guinea were planned to host the 2025 edition, which until that point was yet to have a host named.[12]

On 30 January 2019, the CAF President confirmed the timetable shift, after a meeting with Ivorian President Alassane Ouattara in Abidjan, Ivory Coast.[13]

Sponsorship

Total S.A. has been a corporate sponsor of the Confederation of African Football since 2016.[14]

Title sponsorOfficial sponsorsRegional sponsors
  • Celeste
  • Porteo

Mascot

Akwaba, the official mascot of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations

The organizing board of the 2023 African Cup of Nations unveiled the AFCON 2023 Mascot; "Akwaba", which means "Welcome" in Akan language. It is an elephant, which is Ivory Coast's animal symbol. Its kit bears resemblance to Ivory Coast's home colors.[17]

Qualification

  Host
  Qualified
  Failed to qualify
  Withdrew or did not enter
  Suspended
  Not part of CAF

Qualified teams

The following teams qualified for the tournament. For the first time since 2015 and first time ever since the 24-team format was introduced, there are no debutant nations.

Team Method of
qualification
Date of
qualification
Finals
appearance
Last
appearance
Previous best
performance
 Ivory CoastHosts / Group H runners-up30 January 201925th2021Champions (1992, 2015)
 MoroccoGroup K winners24 March 202319th2021Champions (1976)
 AlgeriaGroup F winners27 March 202320th2021Champions (1990, 2019)
 South AfricaGroup K runners-up28 March 202311th2019Champions (1996)
 SenegalGroup L winners28 March 202317th2021Champions (2021)
 Burkina FasoGroup B winners28 March 202313th2021Runners-up (2013)
 TunisiaGroup J winners28 March 202321st2021Champions (2004)
 EgyptGroup D winners14 June 202326th2021Champions (1957, 1959, 1986, 1998, 2006, 2008, 2010)
 ZambiaGroup H winners17 June 202318th2015Champions (2012)
 Equatorial GuineaGroup J runners-up17 June 20234th2021Fourth place (2015)
 NigeriaGroup A winners18 June 202320th2021Champions (1980, 1994, 2013)
 Guinea-BissauGroup A runners-up18 June 20234th2021Group stage (2017, 2019, 2021)
 Cape VerdeGroup B runners-up18 June 20234th2021Quarter-finals (2013)
 MaliGroup G winners18 June 202313th2021Runners-up (1972)
 GuineaGroup D runners-up20 June 202314th2021Runners-up (1976)
 GhanaGroup E winners7 September 202324th2021Champions (1963, 1965, 1978, 1982)
 AngolaGroup E runners-up7 September 20239th2019Quarter-finals (2008, 2010)
 TanzaniaGroup F runners-up7 September 20233rd2019Group stage (1980, 2019)
 MozambiqueGroup L runners-up9 September 20235th2010Group stage (1986, 1996, 1998, 2010)
 DR CongoGroup I winners9 September 202320th2019Champions (1968, 1974)
 MauritaniaGroup I runners-up9 September 20233rd2021Group stage (2019, 2021)
 GambiaGroup G runners-up10 September 20232nd2021Quarter-finals (2021)
 CameroonGroup C winners12 September 202321st2021Champions (1984, 1988, 2000, 2002, 2017)
 NamibiaGroup C runners-up12 September 20234th2019Group stage (1998, 2008, 2019)

Venues

CAF established the following requirements for the expected six stadiums for this edition of the tournament:[18]

Number of stadiumsCapacity
(Minimum)
240,000
220,000
215,000

In September 2017, the government of Ivory Coast launched a public tender for the venues of the competition. This included public tender requested bids for renovating and expanding the existing Stade Félix-Houphouët Boigny and Stade de la Paix (Peace Stadium) of Bouaké, and building new stadiums in the cities of Korhogo, San Pédro and Yamoussoukro. The three new stadiums were to have a capacity of 20,000 each.

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 Pédro. It also included the construction of 96 villas (five rooms per villa) in the cities of Bouaké, Korhogo, Yamoussoukro and San Pédro. In addition, bids were to be submitted to build a three-star hotel of fifty rooms in the city of Korhogo.[19]

2023 Africa Cup of Nations (Ivory Coast)
Abidjan Bouaké
Alassane Ouattara Stadium Felix Houphouet Boigny Stadium Stade de la Paix
Capacity: 60,000 Capacity: 33,000[20] Capacity: 40,000
Korhogo San Pédro Yamoussoukro
Amadou Gon Coulibaly Stadium Laurent Pokou Stadium Charles Konan Banny Stadium
Capacity: 20,000 Capacity: 20,000 Capacity: 20,000

Match officials

On 12 September 2023, a total of 32 referees, 33 assistants, four video assistant referees (VAR), and six technical and physical instructors were shortlisted for the preparatory course ahead of the tournament.[21]

Referees

  • Algeria Mustapha Ghorbal
  • Kenya Peter Waweru
  • Ethiopia Bamlak Tessema Weyesa
  • Democratic Republic of the Congo Jean Ngambo
  • Egypt Amin Omar
  • Mauritania Dahane Beida
  • Morocco Samir Guezzaz
  • Mali Boubou Traore
  • South Africa Tom Abongile
  • Gabon Atcho Pierre
  • Sudan Mahmoud Mahmood
  • Chad Mahamat Aliaou
  • Senegal Issa Sy
  • Libya Mutaz Ibrahim
  • Burundi Pacifique Ndabihawenimana
  • Rwanda Samuel Uwikunda
  • Egypt Mohamed Maarouf
  • Mauritania Abdel Bouh
  • Gabon Mebiame Tanguy
  • Somalia Omar Artan
  • Algeria Gamouh Youcef
  • Morocco Jalal Jayed
  • Ivory Coast Kalilou Ibrahim
  • Tunisia Sadok Selmi
  • Benin Louis Houngnandande
  • Republic of the Congo Messie Nkoukou
  • Mauritius Milazare Patrice
  • Algeria Lahlou Benbraham
  • Tunisia Guirat Haithem
  • Ghana Daniel Laryea
  • Egypt Mahmoud M.Elbanna
  • Mauritius Ahmed Heerelal

Assistant referees

  • Algeria Abbes Zerhouni
  • Algeria Mokrane Gourari
  • Egypt Ahmed Ibrahim
  • Egypt Mahmoud Abouregal
  • Morocco Azgaou Lahsen
  • Morocco Mostafa Akarkad
  • Angola Emiliano Dos Santos
  • Angola Lopes Oliveira
  • Senegal Djibril Camara
  • Senegal Nouha Bangoura
  • Ivory Coast Ngoh Hermann
  • Ivory Coast Nouho Ouattara
  • South Africa Zakhele Siwela
  • Cameroon Elvis Noupue
  • Lesotho Sourou Phatsoane
  • Mozambique Arsenio Maringule
  • Sudan Ibrahim Mohamed
  • Tunisia Hassani Khalil
  • Kenya Gilbert Cheriot
  • Libya Amsaed Essa
  • Burkina Faso Tiama Seydou
  • Comoros Amaldin Souleimane
  • Djibouti Liban Abdoulrazack
  • Gabon Ditsoga Marlene
  • São Tomé and Príncipe Dos Abdelmiro
  • Ghana Kwasi Brobbey
  • Benin Ayimavo Eric
  • Kenya Yiembe Stephen
  • Madagascar Dimbiniaina Andriatianarivelo
  • Togo Ahonto Koffi
  • Republic of the Congo Steven Moutsassi
  • Mali Modibe Samake
  • Morocco Zakaria Brinsi

Video assistant referees

Technical and physical instructors

  • Netherlands Mike Van Der Roest (FIFA)
  • Senegal Malang Diedhou
  • Morocco Mohammed Guezzaz
  • Zimbabwe Felix Tangawarima
  • Burundi Jean Birumushahu
  • Ivory Coast Yeo Songuifolo

Draw

The final draw was held at the Parc des Expositions d'Abidjan in Abidjan on 12 October 2023.[22] The event was hosted by Senegalese-American musician Akon,[23] whilst the draw was conducted by former African international footballers Didier Drogba and Mikel John Obi, alongside current internationals Sadio Mané and Achraf Hakimi.[24] The 24 teams were divided into six groups of four each, with the four initial pots determined based on the September 2023 FIFA World Rankings (shown in parentheses), listed below. Ivory Coast were automatically given the top seed and assigned to position A1 in the draw as hosts.[25]

Pot 1 Pot 2 Pot 3 Pot 4

 Ivory Coast (50) (hosts)
 Morocco (13)
 Senegal (20) (title holders)
 Tunisia (29)
 Algeria (34)
 Egypt (35)

 Nigeria (40)
 Cameroon (41)
 Mali (49)
 Burkina Faso (58)
 Ghana (60)
 DR Congo (64)

 South Africa (65)
 Cape Verde (71)
 Guinea (81)
 Zambia (82)
 Equatorial Guinea (92)
 Mauritania (99)

 Guinea-Bissau (106)
 Mozambique (113)
 Namibia (114)
 Angola (117)
 Gambia (118)
 Tanzania (122)

Group stage

All times are local, GMT (UTC±0).

The fixture schedule for the tournament was released on 20 October 2023, following the group stage draw.[26][27]

Group A

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1  Ivory Coast (H) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Advance to knockout stage
2  Nigeria 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
3  Equatorial Guinea 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Possible knockout stage based on ranking
4  Guinea-Bissau 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
First match(es) will be played: 13 January 2024. Source: CAF
(H) Hosts
Ivory Coast v Guinea-Bissau
Nigeria v Equatorial Guinea

Equatorial Guinea v Guinea-Bissau
Ivory Coast v Nigeria

Equatorial Guinea v Ivory Coast
Guinea-Bissau v Nigeria

Group B

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1  Egypt 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Advance to knockout stage
2  Ghana 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
3  Cape Verde 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Possible knockout stage based on ranking
4  Mozambique 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
First match(es) will be played: 14 January 2024. Source: CAF
Egypt v Mozambique
Ghana v Cape Verde

Egypt v Ghana
Cape Verde v Mozambique

Mozambique v Ghana
Cape Verde v Egypt

Group C

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1  Senegal 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Advance to knockout stage
2  Cameroon 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
3  Guinea 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Possible knockout stage based on ranking
4  Gambia 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
First match(es) will be played: 15 January 2024. Source: CAF
Senegal v Gambia
Cameroon v Guinea

Senegal v Cameroon
Guinea v Gambia

Guinea v Senegal
Gambia v Cameroon

Group D

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1  Algeria 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Advance to knockout stage
2  Burkina Faso 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
3  Mauritania 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Possible knockout stage based on ranking
4  Angola 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
First match(es) will be played: 15 January 2024. Source: CAF
Algeria v Angola
Burkina Faso v Mauritania

Algeria v Burkina Faso
Mauritania v Angola

Angola v Burkina Faso
Mauritania v Algeria

Group E

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1  Tunisia 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Advance to knockout stage
2  Mali 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
3  South Africa 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Possible knockout stage based on ranking
4  Namibia 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
First match(es) will be played: 16 January 2024. Source: CAF
Tunisia v Namibia
Mali v South Africa

Tunisia v Mali
South Africa v Namibia

South Africa v Tunisia
Namibia v Mali

Group F

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1  Morocco 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Advance to knockout stage
2  DR Congo 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
3  Zambia 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Possible knockout stage based on ranking
4  Tanzania 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
First match(es) will be played: 17 January 2024. Source: CAF
Morocco v Tanzania
DR Congo v Zambia

Morocco v DR Congo
Zambia v Tanzania

Tanzania v DR Congo
Zambia v Morocco

Ranking of third-placed teams

Pos Grp Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 A A3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Advance to knockout stage
2 B B3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
3 C C3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
4 D D3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
5 E E3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
6 F F3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
First match(es) will be played: 13 January 2024. Source: CAF
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored; 4) Disciplinary points; 5) Drawing of lots.

Combinations of matches in the round of 16

The specific match-ups involving the third-placed teams depend on which four third-placed teams qualify for the round of 16:

  Possible combinations of third-placed teams
Third-placed teams
qualify from groups
1A
vs
1B
vs
1C
vs
1D
vs
ABCD3C3D3A3B
ABCE3C3A3B3E
ABCF3C3A3B3F
ABDE3D3A3B3E
ABDF3D3A3B3F
ABEF3E3A3B3F
ACDE3C3D3A3E
ACDF3C3D3A3F
ACEF3C3A3F3E
ADEF3D3A3F3E
BCDE3C3D3B3E
BCDF3C3D3B3F
BCEF3E3C3B3F
BDEF3E3D3B3F
CDEF3C3D3F3E

Knockout stage

Bracket

 
Round of 16Quarter-finalsSemi-finalsFinal
 
              
 
27 January – Abidjan (Houphouet Boigny)
 
 
Runner-up Group A
 
2 February – Abidjan (Houphouet Boigny)
 
Runner-up Group C
 
Winner R2
 
27 January – Bouaké
 
Winner R1
 
Winner Group D
 
7 February – Bouaké
 
3rd Group B/E/F
 
Winner QF1
 
29 January – Abidjan (Houphouet Boigny)
 
Winner QF4
 
Winner Group B
 
3 February – Yamoussoukro
 
3rd Group A/C/D
 
Winner R5
 
30 January – San Pédro
 
Winner R8
 
Winner Group F
 
11 February – Abidjan (Ouattara)
 
Runner-up Group E
 
Winner SF1
 
28 January – San Pédro
 
Winner SF2
 
Runner-up Group B
 
3 February – Bouaké
 
Runner-up Group F
 
Winner R7
 
28 January – Abidjan (Ouattara)
 
Winner R6
 
Winner Group A
 
7 February – Abidjan (Ouattara)
 
3rd Group C/D/E
 
Winner QF3
 
30 January – Korhogo
 
Winner QF2Third place play-off
 
Winner Group E
 
2 February – Abidjan (Ouattara)10 February – Abidjan (Houphouet Boigny)
 
Runner-up Group D
 
Winner R4Loser SF1
 
29 January – Yamoussoukro
 
Winner R3Loser SF2
 
Winner Group C
 
 
3rd Group A/B/F
 

Round of 16

Winner Group DR13rd Group B/E/F

Runner-up Group AR2Runner-up Group C

Winner Group AR33rd Group C/D/E

Runner-up Group BR4Runner-up Group F

Winner Group BR53rd Group A/C/D

Winner Group CR63rd Group A/B/F

Winner Group ER7Runner-up Group D

Winner Group FR8Runner-up Group E

Quarter-finals

Winner R4QF2Winner R3

Winner R2QF1Winner R1

Winner R7QF3Winner R6

Winner R5QF4Winner R8

Semi-finals

Winner QF1SF1Winner QF4

Winner QF3SF2Winner QF2

Third place play-off

Loser SF1vLoser SF2

Final

Winner SF1vWinner SF2

References

  1. "New identity for TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations Côte d'Ivoire 2023 revealed". CAFonline.com. Confederation of African Football. 10 June 2023. Retrieved 13 September 2023.
  2. "Africa Cup of Nations to switch from January staging to June in 2019". The Guardian. 21 July 2017. Retrieved 20 July 2018.
  3. "Africa Cup of Nations: Date switch makes African players more attractive, say agents". BBC Sport. 21 July 2017. Retrieved 25 July 2017.
  4. Imary, Gerald (21 July 2017). "African Cup of Nations finally moved away from mid-season and expanded from 16 to 24 teams". The Independent. Archived from the original on 25 July 2017. Retrieved 25 July 2017.
  5. "FIFA Council makes key decisions for the future of football development". FIFA. 26 October 2018. Archived from the original on 26 October 2018. Retrieved 26 October 2018.
  6. "CAF President Dr Motsepe announces African Super League launch details, AFCON 2023 and Champions League key decisions" (Press release). Confederation of African Football. 3 July 2022. Archived from the original on 3 July 2022. Retrieved 3 June 2023. ...the Executive Committee has decided that this edition of the tournament will be postponed to the months of January and February 2024. The postponement is as a direct and sole result of the adverse weather conditions in the country and after also having received further technical opinion from experts on adverse effects of staging the matches in that period, as June and July are rainy seasons in Ivory Coast.
  7. Southby, Ben (3 July 2022). "Africa Cup of Nations 2023 finals have been postponed and moved to January 2024 due to weather concerns in Ivory Coast". Eurosport. Retrieved 3 July 2022.
  8. "Nations Cup: 2019, 2021 and shock 2023 hosts unveiled by Caf". BBC Sport. 20 September 2014. Retrieved 23 July 2019.
  9. "Cameroon stripped of hosting 2019 Africa Cup of Nations". BBC Sport. 30 November 2018. Retrieved 1 December 2018.
  10. "Cameroon stripped of FALCON 2019 hosting duties". Deutsche Welle. 30 November 2018. Retrieved 1 December 2018.
  11. "Cameroon stripped of right to host 2019 Africa Cup of Nations". The Guardian. 30 November 2018. Retrieved 1 December 2018.
  12. "CAN 2019: Le pays hate Sera con-nu Le 9 Javier" [CAN 2019: the host country will be known on January 9]. Le Monde (in French). 10 December 2018. Retrieved 11 December 2019.
  13. "Cote d'Ivoire agrees CAF timetable shift". Confederation of African Football. 30 January 2019. Archived from the original on 11 January 2022. Retrieved 1 February 2019.
  14. "TOTAL, TITLE SPONSOR OF THE AFRICA CUP OF NATIONS AND PARTNER OF AFRICAN FOOTBALL", CAF, 21 July 2016
  15. "CAF and Global motorcycle company, Apsonic conclude Agreement making Apsonic TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations 2023 Official Sponsor". cafonline.com. 10 October 2023.
  16. "CAF and TECNO Mobile conclude Agreement making TECNO Mobile one of the Official Sponsors of the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations Côte d'Ivoire 2023". cafonline.com. 21 September 2023.
  17. "AKWABA', the Official Mascot of TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations Cote d'Ivoire 2023 launched". cafonline.com. 8 July 2023.
  18. Wandji, Arthur (13 August 2017). "CAN 2019: ce que prévoit le nouveau cahier de charges" [CAN 2019: what the new specifications provide]. Camfoot (in French). Retrieved 3 August 2018.
  19. "la Côte d'Ivoire lance un appel d'offres pour la construction d'infrastructures sportives et d'hébergements" [Côte d'Ivoire launches a call for tenders for the construction of sports infrastructure and accommodation]. Abidjan.net (in French). 20 September 2017. Retrieved 2 September 2018.
  20. "La moitié des stades sont prêts". L'Expression: Sports (in French). 20 February 2023. Retrieved 20 May 2023.
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  22. "Hosts Cote d'Ivoire face Nigeria, holders Senegal clash with Cameroon". Confederation of African Football. 12 October 2023. Retrieved 12 October 2023.
  23. "Global Music Icon AKON to host TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations Cote d'Ivoire 2023 Final Draw on Thursday night". Confederation of African Football. 11 October 2023. Retrieved 11 October 2023.
  24. "Drogba, Mikel, Mane and Hakimi named as star-studded Draw Assistants for the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations Cote d'Ivoire 2023 Final Draw". Confederation of African Football. 12 October 2023. Retrieved 12 October 2023.
  25. "CAF Confirms TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations Cote d'Ivoire 2023 Pot Seeding Ahead of 12 October Official Draw". Confederation of African Football. 22 September 2023. Retrieved 22 September 2023.
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