Everything you need to know about TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nation
Presented by Ed Emeanua
As the countdown to Cote D’Ivoire 2023 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) continues, it is important to examine Ivorian cities that would host the best footballing talents of the continent from Saturday, January 13, 2024 to Sunday, February 11, 2024.
The Africa Cup of Nations, occasionally identified as the TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations because of sponsorship reasons, or just AFCON or CAN, is the continent’s chief football competition for national men’s teams. It is held under the auspices of the Confederation of African Football, and was first staged in Khartoum, Sudan in 1957.
Its last edition was held in Cameroon where ‘The Lions’ of Senegal emerged champions for the first time in their history of participating in the tournament. ‘The Pharaohs’ of Egypt is the most successful team in the competition having won it seven times.
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2023 Africa Cup of Nations (Ivory Coast)
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Abidjan | Bouaké | |
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| Alassane Ouattara Stadium | Felix Houphouet Boigny Stadium | Stade de la Paix | |
| Capacity: 60,000 | Capacity: 33,000[26] | Capacity: 40,000 | |
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| Korhogo | San-Pédro | Yamoussoukro | |
| Amadou Gon Coulibaly Stadium | Laurent Pokou Stadium | Charles Konan Banny Stadium | |
| Capacity: 20,000 | Capacity: 20,000 | Capacity: 20,000 | |
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Credit Wikipedia
The competition will involve a total of 24 national teams out of the 54 eligible nations that participated in the qualifiers. The nations taking part in Cote D’Ivoire will be broken into six groups of four teams each, that are spread over five Ivorian cities and six venues.
The cities hosting the teams are Abidjan, Bouaké, Korhogo, San Pedro, and Yamoussoukro. Below are the presentation of the host cities and what each of them offers and with excerpts from CAFONLINE.
Abidjan
The economic capital of Côte d’Ivoire, Abidjan, nicknamed “La Perle des Lagunes” (The Pearl of the Lagoons), is a cosmopolitan city of nearly six (6) million inhabitants.
Abidjan, the bustling economic capital and business hub of the country, boasts the headquarters and regional offices of several major international institutions, including the AfDB, AIFD, UNICEF, UNDP, IMF, World Bank, and FIBA-Africa (Basketball), among others.
In addition, Abidjan boasts an impressive array of luxury hotels, including three (3) classified as 5-star, with approximately forty high-end hotels in total. In addition, there are dozens of luxurious residential complexes, totaling over 4,000 rooms. This hotel network is well spread throughout the city. Beyond Abidjan’s borders, seaside locations offer kilometers of beaches, perfect for relaxation and escape.
Bouaké
The host city of the 1984 Africa Cup of Nations, Bouake is located in the centre of the country and is 350 km from the economic capital of Abidjan.
With a population of more than 600 000, it is the second largest city in the country and the third largest in economic terms.
Its hotel network includes several good quality establishments, which offer comfortable and warm stays for tourists.
Korhogo
Korhogo, the capital of the Savanes region, derives its name from a local tradition of the Sénoufo ethnic group, known as “Pôrô.”
The city is located approximately 207 km from Mali and 242 km from Burkina Faso and boasts a population of around 300 000.
There is an array of quality hotels that offer memorable stays for visitors.
In addition to its warm and hospitable people, the city has a vibrant cultural centre and art museum for visitors to learn more about the city and its rich history.
San Pedro
Located in the southwest of Côte d’Ivoire, 350 km from Abidjan, San Pedro is a seaside and tourist town of just over 265 000 inhabitants.
It has the second largest port in the country and the largest cocoa export port in the world.
With its cosmopolitan vibe, San Pedro lures a diverse array of foreign residents.
The city’s hotels, set against the eye-catching seashore, offer a charming and ambiance that leaves a lasting impression on visitors.
Visitors can also visit the close-by towns of Grand-Béréby and Sassandra to get a different feel of the city of San Pedro.
Yamoussoukro
Yamoussoukro, the birthplace of the first president of the Republic, Félix Houphouët-Boigny, is the political and administrative capital of Côte d’Ivoire. Located 240 km north of Abidjan, it has a population estimated at over 260000.
Renowned for its state-of-the-art Universities that are renowned for producing some of Africa’s greatest leaders and academics, Yamoussoukro is not only a tourist attracting city but is well known for its warm hospitality and beautiful infrastructure and educational centres such as the Basilica of Our Lady of Peace, the Félix Houphouët-Boigny Foundation for Peace Research, the Lake of the Caimans and world-class Golf facilities.
The city has some of the best hotels and accommodation options, including the famous Hotel des Parlementaires.
