CAF President Visits Cote d’Ivoire Ahead of AFCON 2023

A Confederation of African Football, CAF, delegation arrived in Cote d’Ivoire on Monday to assess the country’s progress in its preparations to host the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, AFCON.

The delegation, led by CAF President Patrice Motsepe visited some of the infrastructures that will be used for the continental tournament.

The team also met President Alassane Ouattara, Prime Minister Patrick Achi and the country’s football leadership.

Cote d’Ivoire, initially scheduled to host AFCON 2021, agreed to a two-year delay after Cameroon’s 2019 ‘hosting rights were also pushed by a similar period due to unpreparedness.’

Qualification for the tournament which is scheduled to be played in June-July 2023 has already begun, with 24 teams hoping to seal spots.

Already, Botswana, South Sudan, Lesotho, Eswatini, Sao Tome and Gambia have sealed places in the qualification group stages. The six qualified countries, therefore, join the 42 countries “exempt from the preliminary qualification stage.”

CAF is expected to hold the draw for the group stage qualifiers in due course.

CGTN/Christopher Ojilere