🌍 Feed

✍🏿 Compose

Countdown to AFCON 2023 as the ultimate African football showdown nears 🌍⚽🏆

#afcon
#football
#entertainment
#african nations
With just a few days to the start of AFCON 2023, hosted in Cote d’Ivoire, here is what to expect as football fever slowly engulfs the continent.

Bonface Orucho, bird story agency


Football enthusiasts from across the continent are gearing up for an electrifying kickoff as the countdown to AFCON 2023, one of Africa's most fiercely competitive football tournaments, nears its end.


Set in Cote d'Ivoire for the first time since 1984, the 34th edition of the action-packed tournament spans from Saturday, January 13 to February 11.


This 24-team showdown unites the continent's football elites, stars like Egyptian forward Mohamed Salah from English Premier League club Liverpool and Super Eagles' Victor Osimhen, recently honored as the best African male footballer by CAF. The clash of these titans promises enthralling entertainment for millions of global football fans.


Six stadiums across five cities—Abidjan, Bouake, Korogho, San Pedro, and Yamoussoukro—will be the battlegrounds for these intense matches.


Notably, four of the six stadiums are newly built and will host the tournament for the first time. These include the Olympic Stadium of Ebimpe, a 60,000-capacity arena that was inaugurated in 2020 as part of preparations for the upcoming fete.


The buzz around the competition is palpable, with CAF reporting soaring ticket sales, indicating its widespread appeal among fans in Cote d'Ivoire and beyond.


Following successful historic online ticket sales last November and over-the-counter sales a few weeks ago across major cities and towns in Cote d’Ivoire, CAF is undertaking the final phase of ticket sales for the tournament.


In a press statement on January 9, CAF explained that the final ticket-selling campaign targeted over-the-counter ticket sales in 12 cities and online via http://tickets.cafonline.com/AFCON. Ticket prices range from US $8 for Category 3, $16 for Category 2 and $24.


New World TV, the official broadcasting rights agency for CAF until 2025, has sublicensed several broadcasters.


Multichoice's latest announcement that SuperSport will broadcast all 52 matches is perhaps the most exciting news for millions of fans who will not make it to the pitch to watch the live matches in person.


Having secured broadcasting rights, SuperSport, one of the leading sports broadcasters on the continent, will air matches both on DStv and GOtv across more than 50 countries, potentially reaching more than 23 million subscribers.


New World TV will broadcast in over 16 countries; BeIN will cover the Northern African region; and Canal+ Group will cater to French-speaking Africa.


Other broadcasters that will air the action in Africa include South African broadcaster SABC, which secured a US$80 million broadcasting rights contract. Chinese broadcaster StarTimes also has rights for Anglophone and Lusophone countries, as announced in their statement.


Global television broadcast partners recently unveiled by CAF include Sky (United Kingdom), BBC (United Kingdom), LaLiga+ (Spain), SportItalia (Italy), Sport Digital (Germany and Switzerland), SportTV (Portugal), Viaplay (Nordics) and Band TV (Brazil).


With more than 45 free-to-air broadcasters in the loop, CAF anticipates the tournament will be broadcast in approximately 180 countries.


The 2023 AFCON is unique in many ways. Some of the continent’s finest stars will be making their last appearance in this year’s edition as younger, emerging players take over national team spots.


According to Sports Brief, a sports news platform, former Leicester forward Ahmed Musa of Nigeria, legendary Andre Ayew of Ghana and Algerian goalkeeper Rais M’Bolhi are some household names that could be playing their last AFCON this year. Others include Ivorian Badra Ali Sangare and Yunis Abdelhamid of Morocco.


However, with players such as Vincent Aboubakar of Cameroon and Senegal’s Sadio Mane clashing, there is much action to be anticipated from the tournament.


The duo is part of CAF’s listing of the top 10 players to watch at the tournament. Others included in the list are Sehrou Guirassy of Guinea, 30-year-old Ivorian Sebastien Haller, Mohamed Amoura of Algeria, Victor Osimhen of Nigeria, Azzedine Ounahi from Morocco, Mohammed Kudus of Ghana, Mohamed Salah of Egypt, and Namibian Peter Shalulile.


The winning team will secure the largest-ever AFCON prize money, a hefty US$7 million—a 40% increase by CAF. The runners-up will now get US $4 million, while the second runners-up will receive US $2.5 million. All four quarter-finalists will be cushioned with US$1.3 million.


"I am confident that a portion of the prize money will contribute to developing football and benefit all stakeholders," says CAF President Patrice Motsepe in a statement.


The sponsorship portfolio for AFCON 2023 includes global partners such as PUMA, betting site 1xBET, VISA, Orange, and Rexona. Unilever, a global supplier of beauty and well-being products including personal care, home care, nutrition, and ice cream products, is the latest sponsorship addition.


The tournament kicks off with host Cote d’Ivoire facing Guinea-Bissau at the Alassane Ouattara Stadium, Abidjan, on Saturday, January 13, starting at 20:00 GMT.


bird story agency


Top comments(1)

SEND

You may like this too...

Benjamindada

From heartbreaking misses to match losses, footballers face the wrath of internet trolls in the digital age, as passionate fans blur the lines between support and cyberbullying.
Apr 4, 2024

Bird Story Agency

The construction launch of a 12,000-capacity multipurpose arena in Lagos signals growing Nigerian interest in tapping lucrative opportunities in the sports and creative industries.
Feb 26, 2024

Bird Story Agency

Women continue to make giant strides in football with their inclusion in decision-making in Africa and around the world. Women are being seen regularly not only in boardrooms and dressing rooms but also on the pitch. Six women referees taking to pitches at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast will be building on a growing legacy for young women around the world.
Jan 17, 2024

Bird Story Agency

Showmax has announced it will put an affordable Premier League viewing plan in viewers' pockets as the South African streamer bets on a mobile-first focus to drive subscriptions and put it out of reach of Netflix, its big rival on the continent.
Jan 16, 2024

Bird Story Agency

Kenya wins at the buzzer against Africa Cup’s reigning champion, Egypt; five-time NBA champion Ron Harper visits Africa for the first time as he participates in a Jr. NBA clinic and NBA Africa's Kenya office launch; and an Afrobasket qualifier draw lays out the road ahead of African basketball’s biggest competition.
Dec 7, 2023

Bird Story Agency

The NBA's developmental G League features heavily in this week's African basketball roundup, with Central African Republic's Thierry Darlan choosing the G League and G League players starring in this season's Basketball Africa League (BAL). Also in the news: the world's newest country qualifies for the FIBA World Cup.
Mar 21, 2023

Bird Story Agency

Africa's U-20 World Cup team slots are complete as Gambia secures a historic spot in the Afcon Under-20 finals. Will the Young Scorpions sting Senegal, to carry the 2023 Afcon U-20 title?
Mar 13, 2023

Bird Story Agency

The 15-month-long search for five qualifying teams to represent Africa in the FIBA World Cup 2023 has ended with Cabo Verde, South Sudan, Angola, Egypt and Ivory Coast making the list.
Feb 28, 2023

Bird Story Agency

A Nigerian Afrobeat singer buys shares in the Cape Town Tigers and the son of Dwayne Wade moves to South Africa, aSika Kone joins WNBA's New York Liberty, and Afrobasket qualifiers in East Africa sizzle, as focus returns to African basketball.
Feb 22, 2023

Bird Story Agency

As the buzz around African basketball intensifies, the third season of BAL promises an unforgettable display of talent and skill. Here are the league details.
Feb 17, 2023
Home
Business Hub
Market Hub
You
By signing up you agree to ourTerms|About us|Market Hub|Business Hub|Deals Hub