The postponed 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) will kick off on Saturday, with hosts Ivory Coast will tackle Guinea-Bissau within the event’s opener.
One of many aggressive groups of the continent, Ivory Coast, the 1992 and 2015 winners, will play in opposition to Guinea-Bissau at Abidjan’s 60,000-capacity Alassane Ouattara Stadium.
The 34th Africa Cup of Nations will conclude with the ultimate showdown on Feb. 11 in Abidjan.
The Spherical of 16 will start on Jan. 27, with the quarterfinal and semifinal levels beginning on Feb. 2 and seven, respectively.
Egypt is essentially the most profitable group within the AFCON, lifting seven titles, the final in 2010.
The Pharaohs clinched the AFCON trophy thrice on dwelling soil (1959, 1986, and 2006).
Egypt is the one nation to assert it thrice consecutively in 2006, 2008, and 2010.
Cameroon are the second most profitable group with 5 wins, adopted by Ghana with 4, Nigeria with three, and Ivory Coast, Algeria, and the Democratic Republic of Congo with two every.
Sadio Mane-led Senegal are the defending AFCON champions after they beat Egypt 4-2 on penalties within the 2021 closing held in Cameroon’s capital, Yaounde.
It was Senegal’s first AFCON title.
Based in 1957, the AFCON is Africa’s foremost worldwide soccer competitors.
Africa’s soccer authority beforehand postponed the soccer occasion to 2024 resulting from adversarial climate situations in Ivory Coast.
The event will embrace six teams of 4 groups, with the highest two nations in every group mechanically advancing to the Spherical of 16.
As well as, the 4 highest ranked third-placed nations will be part of them within the first knockout stage.