The 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), sponsored by TotalEnergies, is scheduled to be the 34th edition of the biennial African tournament organized by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) which would be hosted by Ivory Coast for the second time in their history.
The tournament was initially scheduled to take place during the summer of 2023 to reduce scheduling conflicts with European club teams and competitions but CAF announced on the 3rd of July 2022 that it was rescheduled to January 2024 due to weather concerns in the host country during the summer.
Host nation Ivory Coast, defending champions Senegal as well as Morocco, Algeria, South Africa, Burkina Faso and Tunisia are the 7 nations to have already qualified for the tournament as at the time of this publication.
As well as being the host nation, Ivory Coast are in search of their 3rd AFCON winner’s medal in what would be their 25th appearance in the tournament. The 1992 and 2015 winners nicknamed ‘the Elephants’ were knocked out in the Round of 16 by Egypt in the 2021 edition.
Cup holders Senegal will look to defend their trophy when they appear for the tournament for the 17th time in their history next year, with that being their only triumph at the AFCON finals. ‘The Lions of Teranga’ as they are popularly called defeated Egypt on penalties to win the last edition of the tournament.
Morocco would be hoping 19 would be the lucky number for them as they go in search of their first AFCON trophy since 1976 in their 19th attempt. ‘The Atlas Lions’ only became the first African country to reach the semi-finals of the World Cup in 2022 but were knocked out by Egypt in the Quarter-finals of the last edition of this tournament.
1990 and 2019 winners, Algeria would be making their 20th appearance at the Africa Cup of Nations. ‘The Foxes’ couldn’t progress from the group stages of the last edition as they finished bottom of Group E with a single point.
1996 AFCON winners, South Africa would be making their 11th appearance at the tournament finals as they return to the event after missing out on the last edition. ‘Bafana Bafana’ were knocked out in the Quarter-finals by Nigeria in their last appearance in 2019.
13-times participants Burkina Faso are looking to do better than their 2013 2nd place finish which is their best ever finish in the tournament’s history. ‘The Horses’ were knocked out by eventual winners Senegal in the Semi-finals of the 2021 edition.
2004 winners, Tunisia would be looking to conquer the continent yet again in their 21st attempt to end their 19-year wait for prestigious prize. ‘The Eagles of Carthage’ were knocked out by Burkina Faso in the Quarter-finals of the last edition.
Abidjan, Bouake, Korhogo, Yamoussoukro and San Pedro are the 5 host cities in Ivory Coast where the tournament would be held.
The competition which was first held in 1957 and has been held after every two years since 1968, has Egypt as the most successful nation in the tournament’s 66-year history with ‘the Pharaohs’ winning it 7 times while also winning it three times consecutively in 2006, 2008 and 2010.
In 2013, Confederation of African Football changed the tournament’s format to be held in odd-numbered years, so as to avoid any future interference with the FIFA World Cup.