CAF confirm date for AFCON Cote d'Ivoire 2023 draws

CAF confirm date for AFCON Cote d'Ivoire 2023 draws

Jidechi Chidiezie 22:51 - 19.05.2023

The 2023 edition of the competition is scheduled to hold in Cote d'Ivoire from January 13 to February 11, 2024.

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) have confirmed that the draw for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) will be held on October 12, 2023 - three months before the start of the tournament.

The 2023 edition of the biennial competition, which is scheduled to hold in Cote d'Ivoire from January 13 to February 11, 2024, will be the 34th edition of the tournament.

24 qualified teams to be known by October

CAF reached the decision during an Executive Committee meeting in Algiers, Algeria on Thursday, alongside other continental issues including the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, and the 2023 CAF Women's Champions League.

With the qualifiers for the tournament gravitating towards its last round of matches, the 24 participating teams will be known by October when the draws will host in the host nation, Cote d'Ivoire.

According to CAF and the Local Organizing Committee, the opening match is set to be played at the Hassan Ouattara Stadium, in the country's capital Abidjan.

Cote d'Ivoire's Hassan Ouattara Stadium
Cote d'Ivoire's Hassan Ouattara Stadium

This becomes the second time the Ivorians would host the tournament, having staged the 1984 edition when Cameroon were crowned champions.

Super Eagles leading qualifying group

Meanwhile, Nigeria's Super Eagles will look to continue their surge towards making the Cote d'Ivoire-hosted tournament when the qualifying campaign is back on track in June.

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Nigeria currently leads Group A with three wins and nine points, after four rounds of matches. Their most recent game saw them bounce back from a defeat to secure a 1-0 victory over Guinea Bissau at the Estádio 24 de Setembro in Bissau.

The Super Eagles in their final round of games will take on Sierra Leone away from home in June, before wrapping up the qualifying series with a home tie against Sao Tome and Prinicipe.

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