The legendary Félix Houphouët-Boigny stadium in Abidjan, one of the six arenas for this year’s African Cup of Nations (AFCON) is getting set for the kick-off of the continental showpiece on Saturday January 13, 2024.
With just a few days to go, euphoria is sweeping the cities of Cote d’Ivoire, a sign that the people of the country and other African nations have been eagerly awaiting this event.
Four new stadiums have been built from scratch andtwo others renovated; roads that connect the cities have been developed, hospitals built or upgraded and airports refurbished. According to Idriss Diallo, president of the Ivorian Football Federation, the country has invested more than $1b in infrastructure related to the competition.
Organizers hope that the developments will leave a lasting legacy and mark a new beginning for the country, which has suffered from civil wars in the last two decades. Ivory Coast already has a soccer pedigree, having won the cup twice before and produced stars like former Chelsea striker Didier Drogba and ex-Manchester City midfielder Yaya Toure. But Diallo hopes that the new infrastructure will cement the nation’s global reputation as a soccer powerhouse.
A number of delegations from the national teams taking part in the African Cup of Nations have already set foot on Ivorian soil, marking the start of a gathering that transcends borders.
And on Saturday, January 13, 2024, the Africa Cup of Nations will kick off with an anthology match between the host nation and Guinea-Bissau, to the delight of the senses of all African soccer fans.
All eyes are on Côte d’Ivoire.
The stage is set for a remarkable Africa Cup of Nations.