The Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2024 is the 34th edition of the continental football tournament that showcases the best of African talent. The tournament will be hosted by Ivory Coast from January 13 to February 11, 2024, with 24 teams competing for the coveted trophy.
The Hosts
Ivory Coast, also known as Côte d’Ivoire, is a West African country with a population of about 26 million people. The country is famous for its cocoa production, its music and art, and its football stars such as Didier Drogba, Yaya Toure, and Wilfried Zaha.
Ivory Coast will host the AFCON for the third time, after 1984 and 2015. The country has six stadiums in four cities that will host the matches: Abidjan, Yamoussoukro, Bouake, and San Pedro. Abidjan, the largest city and the economic capital, will host the opening and closing ceremonies, as well as the final match.
The Format
The 24 teams are divided into six groups of four, with the top two teams from each group and the four best third-placed teams advancing to the knockout stage. The knockout stage consists of the round of 16, the quarter-finals, the semi-finals, the third-place match, and the final.
The tournament will use the video assistant referee (VAR) system for the first time, following its successful implementation at the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup and the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
The Teams
The 24 teams that qualified for the AFCON 2024 are:
Group A: Ivory Coast, Nigeria, Equatorial Guinea, Guinea-Bissau
Group B: Egypt, Ghana, Cape Verde, Mozambique
Group C: Senegal, Cameroon, Guinea, The Gambia
Group D: Algeria, Burkina Faso, Angola, Mauritania
Group E: Tunisia, Mali, South Africa, Namibia
Group F: Morocco, DR Congo, Zambia, Tanzania
Some of the teams to watch out for are:
Morocco:
The reigning champions and the first African team to reach the semi-finals of the 2022 FIFA World Cup, Morocco have a strong squad led by coach Walid Regragui and captain Hakim Ziyech. The Atlas Lions will aim to defend their title and make history by winning back-to-back AFCONs.
Senegal:
The runners-up of the 2019 AFCON and the 2022 FIFA World Cup quarter-finalists, Senegal have a talented and balanced team that features stars such as Sadio Mane, Kalidou Koulibaly, and Edouard Mendy. The Lions of Teranga will hope to end their long wait for their first AFCON title.
Egypt:
The record holders of the most AFCON titles (seven), Egypt have a rich history and a passionate fan base. The Pharaohs have a formidable attack led by Mohamed Salah, the 2022 FIFA World Cup Golden Boot winner, and a solid defense anchored by Ahmed Hegazi and Mohamed El-Shenawy.
Ivory Coast:
The hosts and the 2015 AFCON winners, Ivory Coast have a young and exciting team that includes players such as Nicolas Pepe, Franck Kessie, and Sebastien Haller. The Elephants will have the home advantage and the support of their fans as they aim to lift their third AFCON trophy.
The Schedule
The AFCON 2024 will kick off on January 13, 2024, with the opening match between Ivory Coast and Guinea-Bissau at the Alassane Ouattara Stadium in Abidjan. The group stage will last until January 24, with four matches played every day.
The round of 16 will start on January 27 and end on January 30, with two matches played every day. The quarter-finals will take place on February 2 and 3, with two matches played every day. The semi-finals will be held on February 7, with one match played in the afternoon and one in the evening.
The third-place match will be played on February 10, followed by the final on February 11, both at the Alassane Ouattara Stadium in Abidjan.
Here is the full schedule of the AFCON 2024 (all times are local):
Group Stage
| Date | Match | Venue | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Saturday January 13 | Ivory Coast vs Guinea-Bissau | Alassane Ouattara Stadium, Abidjan | 8pm |
| Sunday January 14 | Nigeria vs Equatorial Guinea | Alassane Ouattara Stadium, Abidjan | 2pm |
| Sunday January 14 | Egypt vs Mozambique | Felix Houphouet-Boigny Stadium, Abidjan | 5pm |
| Sunday January 14 | Ghana vs Cape Verde | Felix Houphouet-Boigny Stadium, Abidjan | 8pm |
| Monday January 15 | Senegal vs The Gambia | Charles Konan Banny Stadium, Yamoussoukro | 2pm |
| Monday January 15 | Cameroon vs Guinea | Yamoussoukro | 5pm |
| Monday January 15 | Algeria vs Angola | Stade de la Paix, Bouake | 8pm |
| Tuesday January 16 | Burkina Faso vs Mauritania | Bouake | 2pm |
| Tuesday January 16 | Tunisia vs Namibia | Amadou Gon Coulibaly Stadium, Korhogo | 5pm |
| Tuesday January 16 | Mali vs South Africa | Korhogo | 8pm |
| Wednesday January 17 | Morocco vs Tanzania | Laurent Pokou Stadium, San Pedro | 5pm |
| Wednesday January 17 | DR Congo vs Zambia | San Pedro | 8pm |
| Thursday January 18 | Equatorial Guinea vs Guinea-Bissau | Alassane Ouattara Stadium, Abidjan | 2pm |
| Thursday January 18 | Ivory Coast vs Nigeria | Alassane Ouattara Stadium, Abidjan | 5pm |
| Thursday January 18 | Egypt vs Ghana | Felix Houphouet-Boigny Stadium, Abidjan | 8pm |
| Friday January 19 | Cape Verde vs Mozambique | Felix Houphouet-Boigny Stadium, Abidjan | 2pm |
| Friday January 19 | Senegal vs Cameroon | Yamoussoukro | 5pm |
| Friday January 19 | Guinea vs The Gambia | Yamoussoukro | 8pm |
| Saturday January 20 | Algeria vs Burkina Faso | Bouake | 2pm |
| Saturday January 20 | Mauritania vs Angola | Bouake | 5pm |
| Saturday January 20 | Tunisia vs Mali | Korhogo | 8pm |
| Sunday January 21 | Morocco vs DR Congo | San Pedro | 2pm |
| Sunday January 21 | Zambia vs Tanzania | San Pedro | 5pm |
| Sunday January 21 | South Africa vs Namibia | Korhogo | 8pm |
| Monday January 22 | Equatorial Guinea vs Ivory Coast | Alassane Ouattara Stadium, Abidjan | 5pm |
| Monday January 22 | Guinea-Bissau vs Nigeria | Felix Houphouet-Boigny Stadium, Abidjan | 5pm |
| Monday January 22 | Cape Verde vs Egypt | Felix Houphouet-Boigny Stadium, Abidjan | 8pm |
| Monday January 22 | Mozambique vs Ghana | Alassane Ouattara Stadium, Abidjan | 8pm |
| Tuesday January 23 | The Gambia vs Cameroon | Bouake | 5pm |
| Tuesday January 23 | Guinea vs Senegal | Yamoussoukro | 5pm |
| Tuesday January 23 | Angola vs Burkina Faso | Yamoussoukro | 8pm |
| Tuesday January 23 | Mauritania vs Algeria | Bouake | 8pm |
| Wednesday January 24 | Namibia vs Mali | San Pedro | 5pm |
| Wednesday January 24 | South Africa vs Tunisia | Korhogo | 5pm |
| Wednesday January 24 | Tanzania vs DR Congo | Korhogo | 8pm |
| Wednesday January 24 | Zambia vs Morocco | San Pedro | 8pm |
Knockout Stage
| Date | Match | Venue | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thursday January 27 | Round of 16: 1A vs 3B/C/D | Alassane Ouattara Stadium, Abidjan | 5pm |
| Thursday January 27 | Round of 16: 2B vs 2F | Felix Houphouet-Boigny Stadium, Abidjan | 8pm |
| Friday January 28 | Round of 16: 1B vs 3A/C/D | Felix Houphouet-Boigny Stadium, Abidjan | 5pm |
| Friday January 28 | Round of 16: 1F vs 2E | Laurent Pokou Stadium, San Pedro | 8pm |
| Saturday January 29 | Round of 16: 2A vs 2C | Alassane Ouattara Stadium, Abidjan | 5pm |
| Saturday January 29 | Round of 16:. |
Who Will Win AFCON 2024 ?
The AFCON 2024 promises to be a thrilling and competitive tournament, with many teams capable of challenging for the title. Morocco, Senegal, Egypt, and Ivory Coast are among the favorites, but there could be some surprises and upsets along the way.
Who do you think will win the AFCON 2024? Share your predictions and opinions in the comments section below. And don’t forget to tune in to watch the action unfold from January 13 to February 11, 2024.
Mbiydzela
- Mbiydze is a web and graphic designer, digital marketer, and founder of a group of companies including CHEETAH CAMEROON, MBIYDZELA DIGITAL and PULSEBEAT ENTERTAINMENT He is an ambitious entrepreneur with experience in various fields.
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