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In terms of approval, the Yamoussoukro and Bouaké stadiums are set, having received the green light after successfully hosting Ivory Coast vs Zambia match on June 3, 2022 and Ivory Coast vs Comoros match on March 24, 2023 respectively.
With only six months (186 days) left for the kick-off of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Ivory Coast, questions are arising regarding the host nation's preparedness.
Confederation of African Football (CAF) guidelines stipulate that the tournament infrastructure should have been completed by 30 June, six months before the start of the competition, a deadline that Ivory Coast has seemingly failed to meet.
Contrary to expectations, on 30 June, the infrastructure was not delivered to CAF as agreed.
However, Ivory Coast sports and political authorities assert that the delay does not pose a significant concern.
In terms of approval, the Yamoussoukro and Bouaké stadiums are set, having received the green light after successfully hosting Ivory Coast vs Zambia match on June 3, 2022 and Ivory Coast vs Comoros match on March 24, 2023 respectively.
However, the other four stadiums - Ebimpé, San Pedro, Korhogo, and the Félix Houphouët-Boigny ("Félicia") - are still under scrutiny.
The Fédération Ivoirienne de Football (FIF), along with Office National des Sports (ONS), Bureau National d'Etudes Techniques et de Développement (Bnetd) and COCAN, plans to evaluate these stadiums in the upcoming months.
The Korhogo stadium will be put to the test in a match against Lesotho in September 2023 during the final day of AFCON qualifiers.
The Ebimpé and Félicia stadiums are slated for friendly matches against Morocco and another country in October, while San Pedro's homologation may come after hosting a top flight match in September.
"We were supposed to be ready on June 30, but the rain made us reconsider everything,” ONS Director, Mariam Yoda stated.
“However, we're not worried because CAF has been omnipresent in Abidjan for months. Turf experts and others arrived last week to ensure everything is proceeding as planned.”
“We obviously couldn't deliver the stadiums before testing them. I assure you that there's not much left to do for all these pitches. We'll be ready in time," Yoda told Sport News Africa.
Yoda also asserted that the upcoming CAF General Assembly in Abidjan this July will proceed as planned, separate from the infrastructure work.
"Our stadiums will be fine, with beautiful pitches," she added confidently.
Up to 15 nations have already qualified for Africa’s biggest football showpiece including defending champions Senegal, record winners Egypt, 2022 World Cup semi-finalists Morocco, and former champions Algeria and Nigeria.
The 2023 AFCON to be hosted by Ivory Coast is set to take place from 13th January to 11th February 2024.
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