AFCON 2023: Ivory Coast signs hosting agreement for Nations Cup
Officials from the Ivory Coast government signed a formal hosting agreement for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations with the Confederation of African Football (Caf) on Friday, BBC reports.
The signing is significant as it all but ensures that the next finals, which will actually take place in 2024, will be held in the West African nation.
In recent years, the host country for Nations Cups has moved around at relatively short notice, with Cameroon having lost the 2019 finals ahead of belatedly staging them earlier this year.
Along with other dignitaries, Caf president Patrice Motsepe was in Abidjan to meet Ivorian government officials, including vice-president Tiemoko Meyliet Kone and sports minister Paulin Claude Dahno, who signed the agreement.
Six stadia in five cities – Abidjan, Bouake, Korhogo, San-Pedro and the capital Yamoussoukro – will host the 24-team finals, which will be held in January and February 2024.
The Stade Olympique d’Ebimpe, a 60,000-capacity stadium in Abidjan, is set to host the opening game and final, while the 45,000-capacity Felix Houphouet Boigny Stadium in the city is also being renovated.
The Organizing Committee of the African Cup of Nations 2023 said it was satisfied with the progress of work on the Ebimpe stadium at the end of a technical visit last month.
Meanwhile, the country’s National Office of Infrastructure stated that stadiums in Bouake and Yamoussoukro, which will hold 40,000 and 20,000 respectively, are virtually complete.
However, the BBC’s Lalla Sy in Abidjan says that concerns have been raised about whether there will be enough hotel rooms available to accommodate competing teams, dignitaries and officials and travelling supporters.
Siandou Fofana, Ivory Coast’s Minister of Tourism, has called for hotels to be upgraded to international standards.
