AFCON 2023 is nearly here, and is the next major international men's tournament on the football calendar.
The 34th edition of the tournament, AFCON 2023 is actually being played in the opening months of 2024 due to CAF postponing the tournament in July 2022 due to adverse summer weather concerns in Ivory Coast, the host nation.
Senegal head into the tournament as the holders, following their penalty shootout win at AFCON 2021 against Egypt, and the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations certainly promises to be a belter. It's not too soon to get up to speed, either - here's for everything you need to know about AFCON 2023...
Where will AFCON 2023 take place?
Which country is hosting AFCON 2023?
AFCON 2023 will take place in Ivory Coast. They were announced as hosts in January 2019. CAF originally stripped Cameroon from hosting the 2019 edition due to lack of speed of progress in hosting preparations, but reneged by handing them the 2021 tournament.
Ivory Coast, though, were originally scheduled to host that AFCON, so were pushed back until 2023.
Dates and fixtures
What are the dates for AFCON 2023?
AFCON fixtures will take place between January 13 and February 11, 2024.
The group stages will start with Ivory Coast vs Guinea-Bissau, before concluding on January 24.
From there, 16 teams will progress to the knockout rounds, with the round of 16 taking place between January 27 and January 30. Following a day's rest, the quarter-finals will then be played on February 2 and 3.
The semi-finals will take place on the same day, on February 7, before the final on February 11.
AFCON 2023 fixtures
January 13
Ivory Coast vs Guinea-Bissau, 2pm GMT
January 14
Nigeria vs Equatorial Guinea, 2pm GMT
Egypt vs Mozambique, 5pm GMT
Ghana vs Cape Verde, 8pm GMT
January 15
Senegal vs Gambia, 2pm GMT
Cameroon vs Guinea, 5pm GMT
Algeria vs Angola, 8pm GMT
January 16
Burkina Faso vs Mauritania, 2pm GMT
Tunisia vs Namibia, 5pm GMT
Mali vs South Africa, 8pm GMT
January 17
Morocco vs Tanzania, 5pm GMT
DR Congo vs Zambia, 8pm GMT
January 18
Equatorial Guinea vs Guinea-Bissau, 2pm GMT
Ivory Coast vs Nigeria, 5pm GMT
Egypt vs Ghana, 8pm GMT
January 19
Cape Verde vs Mozambique, 2pm GMT
Senegal vs Cameroon, 5pm GMT
Guinea vs Gambia, 8pm GMT
January 20
Algeria vs Burkina Faso, 2pm GMT
Mauritania vs Angola, 5pm GMT
Tunisia vs Mali, 8pm GMT
January 21
Morocco vs DR Congo, 2pm GMT
Zambia vs Tanzania, 5pm GMT
South Africa vs Namibia, 8pm GMT
January 22
Equatorial Guinea vs Ivory Coast, 5pm GMT
Guinea-Bissau vs Nigeria, 5pm GMT
Mozambique vs Ghana, 8pm GMT
Cape Verde vs Egypt, 8pm GMT
January 23
Guinea vs Senegal, 5pm GMT
Gambia vs Cameroon, 5pm GMT
Angola vs Burkina Faso, 8pm GMT
Mauritania vs Algeria, 8pm GMT
January 24
South Africa vs Tunisia, 5pm GMT
Namibia vs Mali, 5pm GMT
Tanzania vs DR Congo, 8pm GMT
Zambia vs Morocco, 8pm GMT
How to watch
How to watch AFCON 2023 for free
AFCON 2023 is available for the majority of fans all around the world - including the UK - with the tournament being broadcast on the free-to-air CAF YouTube channel.
American fans will need to watch the tournament on beIN Sports, though, with Sling Blue, and Fubo TV offering options to watch AFCON.
Qualified countries
Which countries have qualified for AFCON 2023?
- Ivory Coast
- Nigeria
- Guinea-Bissau
- Equatorial Guinea
- Egypt
- Ghana
- Cape Verde
- Mozambique
- Senegal
- Cameroon
- Guinea
- Gambia
- Algeria
- Burkina Faso
- Angola
- Mauritania
- Tunisia
- Mali
- South Africa
- Namibia
- Morocco
- DR Congo
- Zambia
- Tanzania
How many teams will be at AFCON 2023?
There will be 24 teams competing at Africa Cup of Nations 2023.
Squads
The final AFCON 2023 squads haven't been announced yet.
When will the AFCON 2023 squads be announced?
An official date for squads to be announced hasn't yet been announced, though it's likely teams will only finalise their teams just days before the tournament kicks off.
On previous occasions squad announcements have been pushed back until 10 days before the first day, with the 2021 edition shrunk to just six days beforehand.
Groups
What are the groups for AFCON 2023?
Group A
- Ivory Coast
- Nigeria
- Guinea-Bissau
- Equatorial Guinea
Group B
- Egypt
- Ghana
- Cape Verde
- Mozambique
Group C
- Senegal
- Cameroon
- Guinea
- Gambia
Group D
- Algeria
- Burkina Faso
- Angola
- Mauritania
Group E
- Tunisia
- Mali
- South Africa
- Namibia
Group F
- Morocco
- DR Congo
- Zambia
- Tanzania
Kick-off times
The AFCON 2023 opening fixture will kick-off at 8pm GMT, with group fixtures also played at 2pm and 5pm. The knockout fixtures will be split between 5pm GMT and 8pm GMT.
The final will be played at 8pm GMT.
Stadiums
What are the AFCON 2023?
These are the AFCON 2023 stadiums:
- Alassane Ouattara Stadium, Abidjan: 60,000
- Felix Houphouet Boigny Stadium, Abidjan: 33,000
- Stade de la Paix, Bouake: 40,000
- Amadou Gon Coulibaly Stadium, Korhogo: 20,000
- Laurent Pokou Stadium, San-Pedro: 20,000
- Charles Konan Banny Stadium, Yamoussoukro: 20,000
Ball
What is the ball for AFCON 2023?
Named after legendary Ivorian forward Laurent Pokou, the official match ball for AFCON is named Pokou and manufactured by Puma.
Mascot
What is the mascot for AFCON 2023?
Akwaba is the official mascot, which is an elephant, Ivory Coast's animal symbol. Its kit bears resemblance to Ivory Coast's home coasts.
Song
What is the official song for AFCON 2023?
The official song is a fusion of afrobeat, rap and zouglou, featuring Nigerian artist Yemi Alade, Egyptian rapper Mohamed Ramadan and Ivorian music band Magic System.
Named 'Akwaba', the song means 'Welcome' in the native language of Baoule and was officially unveiled by CAF in October 2023.
