AFCON
It is 100 Days to Africa Cup of Nations 2023
In 100 days from today, Africa’s biggest event; the CAF Africa Cup of Nations, Cote d’Ivoire 2023 will kick-off in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire bringing together Africa’s top football stars from 13 January until 11 February.
With today marking exactly 100 Days to kick-off, excitement to the biggest event on African soil has reached fever pitch, with the Ivorian nation eagerly anticipating to welcome the 24 national teams as well as the rest of Africa to its shores for the 34th edition of the CAF Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
The Official Final Draw, to be conducted on 12 October at 19h00 local time, marks yet another important milestone as this will see the battle lines being officially drawn for the 24 qualified teams.
The Africa Cup of Nations is watched by over 500 million people in over 150 countries – making it the biggest event to be staged on African soil and amongst the biggest sporting events.
New look and new Identity for CAF Africa Cup of Nations
In June 2023, CAF and the Côte d’Ivoire Local Organising Committee unveiled the official identity for the CAF Africa Cup of Nations Côte d’Ivoire 2023.
This was the first time in over a decade that CAF has given the CAF Africa Cup of Nations identity a new look – once again demonstrating CAF’s commitment in making the event in Cote d’Ivoire next year the best in living memory of the competition.
Stadiums and Infrastructure: Ivorian Government’s huge infrastructure commitment
The Ivorian Government has invested a lot in building world class stadiums in all the five cities that will host the event:
Not only are the stadiums world class, the country has benefited in major roads and infrastructure upgrades as part of the preparations for the s CAF Africa Cup of Nations, Cote d’Ivoire 2023.
Five host cities will be used for the event.
HOST CITIES & STADIUMS
Abidjan: (Alassane Ouattara Stadium and Félix Houphouët-Boigny Stadium)
The economic hub, Abidjan will have two stadiums: Alassane Ouattara Stadium and Félix Houphouët-Boigny Stadium.
Abidjan is home to almost six million people.
The Alassane Ouattara Stadium will host the opening match on 13 January 2024 and the final of the competition on 11 February 2024.
In preparation for the competition, the Félix Houphouët-Boigny Stadium underwent major renovations, including upgrades to its structure, seating, and turf. The stadium now has a seating capacity of 29,000.
It will host Cote d’Ivoire next friendly on 14 October 2023 – the match will be used as a test event.
Bouaké: (Stade De La Paix)
Bouaké, along with Abidjan, served as a host city for the 1984 Africa Cup of Nations. It is located in the central part of the country, 350 km from the economic capital, and 100 km from Yamoussoukro, the political capital.
Korhogo: (Stade Amadou Gon Coulibaly)
Korhogo, known as the “Pôrô” city, named after a tradition of the local Sénoufo ethnic group, is the capital of the Savanes region.
It is located approximately 207 km from Mali and 242 km from Burkina Faso, with an estimated population of around 300,000 inhabitants.
Yamoussoukro: (Charles Konan Banny Stadium)
The birthplace of the first President of the Republic, the late Félix Houphouët-Boigny, Yamoussoukro serves as the political and administrative capital of Côte d’Ivoire.
It is located 240 km north of Abidjan and has an estimated population of over 260,000 inhabitants.
San Pédro: (Laurent Pokou Stadium)
Located in the southwest of Côte d’Ivoire, 350 km from Abidjan, San Pédro is a coastal and tourist city with a population of just over 265,000 inhabitants.
It is home to the country’s second-largest port and the world’s leading cocoa export port.
The Laurent Pokou Stadium, built on a 23.33-hectare site in the Poro district of San Pedro, is a towering figure and one of the proud architectural gems.
–Cafonline
What a turn-around! After four previous competitive matches without a win, the Super Eagles have regained their winning mentality after a 3-0 defeat of Benin Republic in their opening 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying series.
The win also put the Super Eagles at the top of the Group D after both Libya and Rwanda played 1-1 draw last Thursday.
It is also the biggest win by the Super Eagles since their 2023 6-0 win over Sao Tome & Principe last year September.
Great man Ademola Lookman, he put in two goals straightening the possibility of his emerging as 2024 African Footballer of the Year.
The current title holder, Victor Osimhen proved his mettle coming off the bench in the second half to double Nigeria’s lead after Lookman’s late first half goal.
The Super Eagles will now honour their next fixture against Rwanda on Tuesday with the hope of consolidating their lead.
Benin Republic with no points and a deficit of three goals are rooted at the bottom of the log.
BY JOSEPH ODOEKWU
The National Chairman of the Nigerian Football Supporters Club (NFSC), Rev. Samuel Ikpea has called on all Nigerians to rally round and pray for the Super Eagles ahead of Saturday’s Morocco 2025 AFCON qualifier against Benin Republic in Uyo.
Ikpea who is mobilizing support for the Super Eagles ahead of the clash in Uyo said that whatever Benin Republic come with both spiritually and physically in the game, we will surely overcome them.
“In the NFSC we have Christians, Muslims as well as those who believe in traditional worship and we respect the rights of freedom of worship of every member and all Nigerians.
“When we are faced with this kind of crucial game, we call on everyone to pray through their various believes because we foresee that Benin Republic are most likely coming to fall back on ‘black magic’ to enable them perfect a back-to-back victory over our Super Eagles after beating us 2-1 in our last meeting in a World Cup qualifier”
“We cannot underestimate the efficacy of the black magic” Ikpea further stressed, “but we believe that when we come together we can neutralize it’s efficacy.
“This is no time to sleep, we all have to rally round and do our best to support our Super Eagles because they cannot do it alone without the prayers and support of all Nigerians.
“While charging Nigerians to be positive with the team, we at the NFSC have done everything positive to overturn whatever plans they are coming with and we enjoin everyone to toe that path through prayers”.
Meanwhile, the Super Eagles camp is bubbling with training in Uyo, as team Coach Austin Eguavoen, has been working hard to perfect tactics with the boys and ensure the Super Eagles soar on Saturday.
The Super Eagles have not won a qualifying match for any competition since their 6-0 defeat of Principe & Sao Tome on 10th September 2023 in Uyo. That was their last qualifying match for Cote d’Ivoire 2023 played in 2024.
Since then, they have played four World Cup qualifying matches without a win despite being the overwhelming favourites at those matches.
A forensic analysis of their World Cup qualifying since that of Qatar 2022 will reveal they had played seven consecutive matches without a win starting from their 1-1 home draw with Cape Verde in Lagos which qualified them for the play off. In the play off with Ghana, the Super Eagles drew the two matches.
In the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, they have gone four matches, getting three draws and a loss. The prospect of their getting a straight qualification from the group is doubtful as they have a mountain to climb by winning the remaining six matches, three of which are away duels of which are most likely to be played in South Africa, the home ground of their main rivals.
Zimbabwe and Lesotho play their home matches in South Africa and Nigeria also still have an away duel with Bafana Bafana.
The qualification series of AFCON 2025 presents the Super Eagles a new beginning. Starting from the semi-finals of the AFCON in Cote d’Ivoire, the team has won none of their four competitive matches in regulation time. The players have a date with destiny in Uyo this Saturday to wipe off the sagging image they have had in recent time.
A win will give the team the confidence expected in anticipation for future fixtures.
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