The upcoming 2023 African Cup of Nations marks the 34th edition of this biennial football tournament under the Confederation of African Football (CAF), Soccernet.ng reports.
Featuring 24 teams across Africa, including football powerhouses like Senegal, Egypt, Nigeria, Cameroon, and Ghana, this tournament promises an intense clash of talent.
Senegal, the reigning champion after their victory over Egypt in the 2021 edition, aims to defend their title in the Ivory Coast.
The 24 qualified teams are divided into six groups of four. The top two from each group, along with the four best third-placed teams, will advance to the Round of 16.
The tournament kicks off on January 13 and concludes on February 11, hosting matches across various stadiums and cities.
Here's a breakdown of the group stage:
Group A:
– Ivory Coast
– Nigeria
– Equatorial Guinea
– Guinea Bissau
Group B:
– Egypt
– Ghana
– Cape Verde
– Mozambique
Group C:
– Senegal
– Cameroon
– Guinea
– Gambia
Group D:
– Algeria
– Burkina Faso
– Mauritania
– Angola
Group E:
– Tunisia
– Mali
– South Africa
– Namibia
Group F:
– Morocco
– DR Congo
– Zambia
– Tanzania
The tournament format proceeds with the top teams from each group and the best-ranked third-placed teams advancing to the knockout stage—round of 16, quarter-finals, semi-finals, third-place play-off, and the grand finale.
Key fixture highlights:
– Group stage games take place daily from the 13th until January 24.
– The second round starts on January 27, featuring matchups like the winner of Group D against the third-place finisher of Group B/E/F.
– The quarter-final clashes begin on February 2, followed by the semi-finals on February 7 at Bouake and Alassane Ouattara Stadium.
– The third-place play-off determines the bronze medal on February 10.
– The grand finale unfolds on February 11 at the Alassane Ouattara Stadium in Abidjan.
When is Nigeria's Schedule?
The Super Eagles of Nigeria are slated to play their first game of the 2023 AFCON tournament against Equatorial Guinea on the 14th of January at the Olympic Stadium of Ebimpe, then tackle the host country, Côte d'Ivoire, at the same stadium on the 18th of January, and their final game against Guinea-Bissau on the 22nd of January at the Stade Félix-Houphouët-Boigny
