2023 AFCON: CAF Lists Cote D'Ivoire, Nigeria Clash As High-Stakes Encounter

2023 AFCON: CAF Lists Cote D'Ivoire, Nigeria Clash As High-Stakes Encounter

Ibrahim Lateef

As the Africa Cup of Nations reaches fever pitch in Cote d’Ivoire, the clash between the Elephants and Nigeria's Super Eagles has been listed as one of the high-stakes encounter, reports BSNSports.com.ng.

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) listed the epic clash in its comprehensive guide to everything fans needed to know about the 34th edition of Africa's biggest sporting event, starting less than 30 days before the kickoff.

Hosts and Opening Match: Cote d’Ivoire is set to stage the finals, with the opening match scheduled for Saturday, 13 January, where the hosts will face Guinea-Bissau at the Alassane Ouattara Stadium in Abidjan.

Côte d'Ivoire vs. Nigeria: A high-stakes encounter in Group A on 18 January at the Alassane Ouattara Stadium, Abidjan (17:00 GMT).

Senegal vs. Cameroon: Group C heavyweight clash on 20 January at the Charles Konan Banny Stadium, Yamoussoukro (14:00 GMT).

Akwaba - The Official Mascot: The official mascot, "Akwaba," derived from the Baoulé language's term for "Welcome." Represented by an elephant, Akwaba's attire pays homage to the host nation's identity by mirroring Cote d'Ivoire's home colours.

"Pokou" - The Official Match Ball: The official match ball is called "Pokou". It honours the late Ivorian football legend, Laurent Pokou, renowned for his historic achievement of scoring five goals in the 6-1 victory over Ethiopia during the 1970 tournament.

"Akwaba" - The Official Song Celebration: The official song, "Akwaba," features Nigerian artist Yemi Alade, Egyptian rapper Mohamed Ramadan, and Ivorian music band Magic System. The anthem blends afrobeat, rap, and zouglou, embodying a unique musical fusion deeply rooted in the tradition of the tournament.

However, the AFCON is the single-biggest event staged on African soil that attracts over 600 million viewers globally, and will kick off on 13 January 2024.