AFCON 2024: Five things to know as tournament kicks off in less than a month

In less than a month, the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) finals will kick off in Ivory Coast as the continental showpiece welcomes its 34th edition.

Ivory Coast will be hosting the AFCON tournament for the second time; they hosted the first finals in 1984, and the opening game for this edition will be staged on January 13, where the Elephants will play Guinnea-Bissau.

So what are the five key things you need to know about AFCON 2024?

Stadiums

Six stadiums have been earmarked to host the matches. The facilities have been spread across the cities of Abidjan, Bouake, Korogho, San Pedro, and Yamoussoukro.

Official mascot and match ball

Akwaba was launched as AFCON’s official mascot. The name given to the mascot was derived from the native Baoule language, which means ‘welcome’. Given that it is represented by the elephant, the mascot’s attire pays homage to Ivory Coast’s identity.

The official match ball, Pokou, honours Laurent Pokou, who is an Ivory Coast legend. Pokou is renowned for a historic achievement when he scored five goals in a 6-1 victory over Ethiopia in 1970.

Song, celebration

The Akwaba celebration song 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, as revealed by CAF.

AFCON format

The 24 teams have been divided into six groups, and the format will see the top two teams in each group and the four best-ranked third-placed teams advance to the last 16.

Pre-tournament favourites

Senegal are seen as the favourites and its top stars are expected to give top-level performances. Sadio Mane, Kalidou Koulibaly, and Edouard Mendy switched to the Saudi Arabian league but are expected to carry the nation’s flag with pride and enthusiasm, just like when they were in the English Premier League.

Group A rivals, Nigeria and Ivory Coast, who will meet on January 18 at the Alassane Ouattara Stadium in Abidjan, are also seen as favourites.