AFCON 2023 - Framework agreement signed with CAF

The signing ceremony for the framework agreement for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, scheduled for January 2024, took place on Friday 11 November 2022 in Abidjan. All the guests invited were delighted that the signing ceremony for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations framework agreement was finally taking place. The president of the Confederation of African Football was particularly brief but glowing in his praise of the infrastructure. "I think Côte d'Ivoire should be proud because, from what I have seen, I think this country has the qualities to host the World Cup", said an enthusiastic Patrice Motsepe, CAF president. Following him, the prime minister and the president of the COCAN said they were pleased that, with this agreement, the AFCON had been definitively awarded to Côte d'Ivoire.

"What a pleasure to address you. Because today is when everything really begins. This 34th AFCON that Côte d'Ivoire has been eagerly awaiting since 1982. This 2023 AFCON will thrill an entire nation. This 2023 AFCON that we will make so beautiful that it will make Africa shine. Today is the time for the signing of the framework agreement and the signing of the confirmation letter. The signing of this agreement does not require the presence of the president ...Patrice Motsepe, I want to welcome you with akwaba. I want to express our sincerest thanks for the quality support in the organisation of this AFCON. Holding this double ceremony reflects the shared will of CAF and the government. Our signing today marks the concrete starting point of the competition in line with CAF guidelines", said His Excellency Patrick Achi. "This is the second time in this same year 2022 that you have honoured us with your friendship and fraternity by visiting our country, despite what we know is a very busy schedule. We are grateful for the interest you take in the organisation of the AFCON in Côte d'Ivoire. In return, we assure you of our commitment to work for good collaboration between the COCAN teams and those of CAF, so that this 34th edition is a great celebration of African football. I take this opportunity to express my gratitude for the warm welcome and all the attention shown to my delegation and me last week at CAF headquarters in Cairo. The discussions we had with the CAF Secretary General allowed us to make progress in understanding how to define the remit of each of the stakeholders," the COCAN 2023 chief added for his part. With this hosting document, the tournament can no longer slip away from Côte d'Ivoire. Several high-profile figures were present. Besides His Excellency Patrick Achi, the Ivorian prime minister, there was of course Mr Patrice Motsepe (CAF president), the FIF president, Yacine Idriss Diallo, the COCAN 2023 president, Albert François Amichia, and the Sports Minister, Paulin Claude Danho, among others.

Sanh Séverin