Nine (9) Facts to know About AFCON 2024

The Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2024 is anticipated to excite football fans everywhere with its exciting tournament, lively cultural celebrations, and action-packed gameplay.

The following nine details should make this competition a spectacular event to remember:

1. Ivory Coast Takes Center Stage: Anticipate an eye-popping orange! On June 23, 2024, the Ivory Coast will host the opening ceremony of the 34th edition of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON). Get ready for an incredible atmosphere and fervent supporters in six stunning stadiums across the nation.

2. Broadened Format, Greater Excitement: AFCON 2024 will feature 24 teams for the first time, compared to 16 in the previous competition. This translates into more games, more upsets, and possibly even more unanticipated football heroes emerging from the football scene throughout the continent.

3. Known Faces, Up-and-Coming Talents: Watch as rising stars in African football, such as Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mané, and Riyad Mahrez, light up the competition alongside them. Watch out for players who have a lot of potential to become household names!

4. Title Chase Heats Up: Algeria are the defending champions, but the hunt for the ultimate trophy is wide open. Senegal, Nigeria, Cameroon, and Ivory Coast itself are among the heavyweights aiming to dethrone the Desert Foxes.

5. Outside the Field: AFCON 2024 isn’t simply about football. It’s a celebration of unity, African music, and culture. Anticipate spectacular fan zones, opening and closing ceremonies, and chances to take in the Ivory Coast’s abundant diversity.

6. Record Prize Money: With a whooping $7 million up for the winners—a 40% increase from the previous edition—this year’s AFCON offers the most prize money in the competition’s history. This incentive will undoubtedly increase the competition’s drama and level of competition.

7. Host City Highlights: Provide further information about the six locations spread over five cities. Give a brief description of the distinctive features of each stadium, such as the recently constructed Ebimpe Olympic Stadium in Abidjan or San Pedro’s coastline setting. This helps readers get an idea of the tournament’s diversity and geographic reach.

8. Star Manager Showdown: Draw attention to the presence of seasoned African strategists like Senegal’s Aliou Cisse with elite European managers like Egypt’s Rui Vitoria and Morocco’s Walid Regragui. The battle is made much more intriguing by this global fusion of managerial talent.

9. South Africa’s comeback: Touch on the country’s comeback to the AFCON, having missed the 2023 competition. Their presence, supported by Mamelodi Sundowns’ outstanding players, provides another dimension to unpredictability and potential upset victories.