All the pieces of the puzzle are falling into place for Côte d'Ivoire to organize the greatest AFCON in the competition's history, forty years after the one and only time the Ivorians hosted the continent.
The number of accreditation requests is an indicator. The competition in Côte d'Ivoire will be on another level in terms of interest. "I've never seen anything like it. There's incredible interest in Côte d'Ivoire. We've had 5,200 requests (compared with 2,000 for Cameroon, editor's note). There's been massive interest from sponsors. We have to protect the sponsors' interests. They put their money in. We have to protect them. We've set up a system to do that. Many sponsors sign with CAF. They trust CAF's leadership," said Veron Mosengo-Omba, CAF General Secretary, at a press conference on December 20, 2023. This enthusiasm is certainly an indicator, but it's not the only element that suggests that the African Cup of Nations, which will be held in Abidjan, Yamoussoukro, Bouaké, San Pedro and Korhogo, will be the biggest continental soccer festival in history.
Côte d'Ivoire, a popular destination
This is not chauvinism, it's a clear statement of fact. Côte d'Ivoire is a popular destination. In 2024, the year of the AFCON, the number of tourists is set to rise significantly, according to the Ministry of Tourism. Many Ivorians from the diaspora, and even non-Ivorians, want to (re)come to the country for the AFCON and (re)discover this magnificent country. "I live in the United States and I can tell you that everywhere I go, I hear people saying that they wouldn't miss this event for the world. From Atlanta to Philadelphia, New York to Miami, everyone is ready to make the leap to Abidjan. We've already booked accommodation for many of those who don't want to bother their families.Online ticket sales have also made things easier", K. Massa happily explains.
In fact, this is the first time in the history of the AFCON that tickets have gone on sale online, as explained by CAF. What's more, the organization of this event is not just a matter for the host country. "We have been contacted by the ambassadors of several countries in the sub-region. They are all on our side. They have told us that their communities are numerous in Côte d'Ivoire, and that this organization is not just ours. To put it plainly, all the countries in the UFOA and Uemoa areas are with us," confides Cocan president Albert François Amichia.
"Europe's interest in the AFCON is enormous.There is growing interest in the Balkans and Brazil. Interest is starting to spread beyond Europe. Over 150 countries will be broadcasting the competition. If you take out the 54 African countries, you can see the number of countries in the world that are going to broadcast the competition," adds Mosengo, before adding that CAF validates the AFCON cities, which only two countries have refused. "We need to copy the model for future competitions. The accommodation is of a very high standard. The teams will stay there. New roads were built for the AFCON. They will be used by the local population.
High-level teams
AFCON is all about what happens on the pitch.In Côte d'Ivoire, the concept of small teams will certainly not count. Gambia is no longer a small thumb since its exploits with Tom Saintfiet. Cape Verde and Tanzania will not come as resigned victims.
Among the big guns, Nigeria and their attacking armada of Oshimen, Boniface, Moffi and Iheanacho, Morocco and their status as semi-finalists at the 2022 World Cup, Senegal and the incredible dynamism of their soccer, Algeria, who have regained their health with ex-French internationals, Egypt and their voracious appetite, Côte d'Ivoire itself with its new generation, and Mali, currently at the top of their game, are all assets for gauging the spectacle to come.
Beyond all that, there's Ivorian culture to discover in all its splendour, and above all its impressive gastronomic reservoir to visit and revisit.
