12/12/2023–|Last updated: 12/12/202309:26 PM (Mecca time)
Ivory Coast has built roads and 4 new sports stadiums as part of its preparations to host the African Cup of Nations, which will start next January.
The West African country is keen to develop local football and prove its ability to host an international sporting event.
Idriss Diallo, president of the Senegalese Football Federation, said: “Ivory Coast will become a center in the region. All countries in the region that do not have licensed stadiums are welcome.”
Diallo estimated the state's investments in constructing roads, stadiums, hospitals and other infrastructure related to the tournament at more than one billion dollars.
The tournament will be held in several ivory cities from January 13 to February 11.
24 teams will participate in Cannes 2023 for the second time in a row after the previous edition, which was held in Cameroon in 2021.
The teams were divided into 6 groups, each group containing 4 teams. At the end of the first round, the teams that ranked first and second from each group qualified, followed by the best 4 teams that obtained third place.
The rest of the Africa Cup of Nations matches will be played in a knockout system, starting from the final 16.
The six groups are:
- The first group: Ivory Coast, Nigeria, Equatorial Guinea and Guinea Bissau.
- the second group: Egypt, Ghana, Cape Verde and Mozambique.
- Third group: Senegal, Cameroon, Guinea and Gambia.
- Fourth group: Algeria, Burkina Faso, Mauritania and Angola.
- Fifth group: Tunisia, Mali, South Africa and Namibia.
- Sixth group: Morocco, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Zambia and Tanzania.
The matches will be played in 6 stadiums, including two in the capital, Abidjan
- Hassan Ouattara Stadium: It hosts the opening match and is located in the capital, Abidjan, with a capacity of 60,000 spectators.
- Stade Felix Ovoi Boigny: It can accommodate 33,000 spectators and is also located in Abidjan.
- Charlie's Conan Bunny Stadium: It has a capacity of 20,000 spectators and is located in the city of Yamoussoukro.
- Al Salam Stadium: It has a capacity of 40,000 spectators and is located in the city of Bouaké.
- Amadou Jean Coulibaly Stadium: It has a capacity of 20,000 spectators and is located in the city of Korhogo.
- Laurent Bouco Stadium: It can accommodate 20,000 spectators and is located in San Pedro.
