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Originally planned for June-July 2023, the tournament was rescheduled due to concerns about the rainy season. However, it has retained the year 2023 as part of its official title.
Following recent tradition by the Confederation of African Football [CAF], the biggest legends of African football are expected to grace the draws for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations [AFCON].
Legends like Didier Drogba and Yaya Toure, who played pivotal roles in Ivory Coast's 2015 AFCON triumph, are expected to make appearances at the draw ceremony on October 12.
Scheduled to take place from January 13 to February 11, 2024, this AFCON tournament marks Ivory Coast's second time hosting the finals, with the previous edition being held in 1984.
Originally planned for June-July 2023, the tournament was rescheduled due to concerns about the rainy season. However, it has retained the year 2023 as part of its official title.
The participating 24 teams have been divided into four pots based on the latest FIFA world rankings.
Remarkably, despite being ranked ninth in Africa, Ivory Coast finds itself in pot one alongside formidable teams like Senegal, Morocco, Egypt, Algeria, and Tunisia.
Pot two boasts the likes of Nigeria, Cameroon, Mali, Ghana, DR Congo, and Burkina Faso, making it equally competitive.
In pot three, South Africa stands alongside Zambia, Mauritania, Cape Verde, Guinea, and Equatorial Guinea.
Tanzania, representing East Africa and the lowest-ranked nation at the tournament, finds itself in pot four, joined by Guinea Bissau, Mozambique, Namibia, Angola, and Gambia, who impressed with a quarter-final appearance in 2021.
The teams will be drawn into six groups of four, with game locations yet to be confirmed before the draw.
The opening match will feature the host nation, the Elephants, against one of their Group A opponents.
The top two teams from each group, along with the four best-ranked third-placed teams, will advance to the round of 16, leading to quarter-finals, semi-finals, a third-place match, and the grand final, which will be held at the Alassane Ouattara Stadium in Abidjan on February 11.
This AFCON tournament marks the third time it features 24 nations, following its expansion in 2019.
All participating teams have been part of at least one of the past two tournaments, except for Zambia, the 2012 champions, making their return after a six-year absence, and Mozambique, appearing for the first time since 2010.
POT 1 - Ivory Coast (*50), Morocco (13), Senegal (20), Tunisia (29), Algeria (34), Egypt (35)
POT 2 - Nigeria (40), Cameroon (41), Mali (49), Burkina Faso (58), Ghana (60), DR Congo (64)
POT 3 - South Africa (65), Cape Verde (71), Guinea (81), Zambia (82), Equatorial Guinea (92), Mauritania (99)
POT 4 - Guinea-Bissau (106), Mozambique (113), Namibia (114), Angola (117), The Gambia (118), Tanzania (122)
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