The 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) is on the horizon and this leaves fans with the question ‘when is AFCON 2023 starting?'.
With several of the top African teams vying to extend their title haul on the biggest stage of African football, the stakes are high as these teams get ready to battle tooth and claws for the ultimate prize.
The 2023 AFCON
The tournament known in short terms as the 2023 AFCON or CAN 2023, and for sponsorship purposes as the TotalEnergies 2024 Africa Cup of Nations, is going to be the 34th edition of the biennial African association football tournament.
It is a competition where Africa's super stars assemble together in their respective national teams with the goal of winning the title in the colours of their nation, a feat so desired by many African footballers, it is seen as a crowning moment for legends of African football.
Meticulously organized by the Confederation of African Football (CAF), the 2023 event will be hosted by the Ivory Coast.
The West African nation will be staging the competition for the second time, and the first since 1984.
As Ivory Coast gets set to welcome the football stars, fans, journalists, pundits and various stakeholders for a memorable event, the feeling of excitement palpitates the enclave as 24 teams battle for the trophy.
When is 2023 AFCON starting?
The 2023 AFCON start date is scheduled for 13 January. As it is done everywhere in the world of football, the host nation will kick off the competition.
With the competition set to take place in six venues and five host cities spread across the major hubs within the country, the Ivory Coast national team (the Elephants) will open the 2023 edition of the tournament in a Group A fixture against Guinea Bissau.
The action will unfold at the Alassane Ouattara Stadium in Abidjan on Saturday, 13 January.
Nigeria national team, the Super Eagles, will be in action the next day as they lock horns with Equatorial Guinea at the same venue in Abidjan.
2023 AFCON group stage schedule for Nigeria Super Eagles
Group A
- Ivory Coast vs. Guinea Bissau – 13 January (Alassane Ouattara Stadium, Abidjan).
- Nigeria vs. Equatorial Guinea – 14 January (Alassane Ouattara Stadium, Abidjan).
- Equatorial Guinea vs. Guinea Bissau – 18 January (Alassane Ouattara Stadium, Abidjan).
- Ivory Coast vs. Nigeria – 18 January (Alassane Ouattara Stadium, Abidjan).
- Equatorial Guinea vs. Ivory Coast – 22 January (Alassane Ouattara Stadium, Abidjan).
- Guinea Bissau vs. Nigeria – 22 January (Felix Houphouet Boigny Stadium, Abidjan)
This article was most recently revised and updated 9 months ago
