If you’re eagerly waiting for the 2023 edition of the Africa Cup of Nations, you might be looking for all the updates you can find until June of next year arrives. As Ivory Coast prepares to host the tournament, there are many developments that are happening leading up to the event so take a look at some of the most important that could affect how it all goes.
Africa Cup of Nations overview
Taking place from 23 June to 23 July 2023, the 34th edition of the Africa Cup of Nations will be held in Ivory Coast. This is the second time the tournament will be held during these months, having been organized in January before. This is to not conflict with other major football tournaments and allow players that play in Europe to take part in the tournament without missing club matches.
Seeing as how the tournament attracts all top-notch players from Africa, it is always popular among local fans. Having the opportunity to support their country is a fun source of entertainment and fans also like placing a few wagers. Still, they should learn more about the different bet9ja codes and their meaning before placing a bet.
A brief history of the tournament
Before the 2023 tournament starts, you can also learn more about the history of the event. The first time it took place was in 1957, with only three nations taking part. However, since then, the tournament has started including more and more countries and now requires qualifications that will determine which of the 54 eligible countries will play in the finale.
The most successful team is Egypt, having won the title seven times, three of them consecutively in 2006, 2008, and 2010. The defending champion is Senegal, after beating Egypt on penalties.
Another fun fact from the history of the tournament is that it used to take place on even-numbered years, but it’s been moved to odd-numbered ones in 2013 in order to not conflict with the FIFA World Cup.
What to expect from the 2023 edition?
Now, when it comes to the 2023 tournament, there are some things we know as the qualifiers are currently taking place. They started in March 2022 and will last until March 2023. These matches will decide which of the 54 teams will move on to the finals that will be played in June and July. Six nations were eliminated in the preliminary round. Moreover, it needs to be said that Kenya and Zimbabwe have been disqualified and are under FIFA suspension, which means that 46 teams will effectively play in the twelve groups. Kenya was in Group C and Zimbabwe in Group K, where there are now three teams left.
The first round is taking place from 30 May to 14 June, and we already have some results. Match days three and four will be held from the 19 to 27 of September, while the last round of matches, i.e. match days five and six are in March 2023. The dates were rearranged to fit in better with various countries’ other obligations, such as friendly matches and World Cup preparations, as well as to allow players more time to rest.
Other big news that we shouldn’t overlook is the fact that Ivory Coast now has a new coach. They have appointed Frenchman Jean-Louis Gasset as the new national team coach. The decision comes after parting ways with Patrice Beaumelle earlier in the year. Gasset is under a one-year contract and his main goal will certainly be to win the Africa Cup of Nations. Ivory Coast was knocked out in the Round of 16 by Egypt during the 2021 edition. Luckily for them, they’ve secured a spot in the finals as the hosts.
Lastly, it should be noted that the state of stadiums across Africa is playing a big role in the organization of the qualifying stage of the tournament. For instance, Malawi’s Bingu National Stadium passed the inspection and they are allowed to play games there. Moreover, Ethiopia will also use the stadium as its home venue for their match against Egypt on 9 June. On the other hand, Eswatini will use the FNB Stadium in Johannesburg, Burkina Faso and Cape Verde will both use the Stade de Marrakech as their home base, and Liberia is also hosting its games in Morocco. Many other nations will play their home games away from home, which could affect their overall performance.
With Nigeria being in Group A with Sierra Leone, Guinea-Bissau, and Mauritius, how well do you think the players will do? Will you be watching every match?
