AFCON 2023: Fixtures, schedule and how it works
- 2023 Africa Cup of Nations will be held at the start of 2024
- The 34th edition of the continental competition is being hosted by Ivory Coast
- Senegal are the holders after defeating Egypt on penalties in 2021
The battle for continental supremacy is bound to be a fierce one when 24 teams compete in the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.
Initially scheduled to take place last summer to avoid clashing with European club competitions, extreme weather conditions in the host country forced CAF into a rethink. While the tournament will now be held at the start of 2024, much to the dismay of clubs across Europe, the event has retained its original name much like Euro 2020 did despite taking place in 2021.
Sadio Mane inspired Senegal to their maiden AFCON triumph last time out, and it's hard to pick out a clear favourite for the upcoming iteration. Mohamed Salah, Mane, Victor Osimhen, Riyad Mahrez, and Achraf Hakimi will each be trying to propel their respective nations to glory in the Ivory Coast.
Here's everything you need to know about the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.
When does AFCON 2023 start?
The 2023 Africa Cup of Nations will start on 13 January 2024 with host Ivory Coast taking on Guinea-Bissau in the tournament opener.
The tournament will conclude less than a month later with the final scheduled for 11 February 2024.
Who is hosting AFCON 2023?
Ivory Coast were initially expected to host the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations, but Cameroon's failure to progress during hosting preparations for the 2019 tournament meant they hosted in 2021 instead.
As a result, Ivory Coast's hosting duties were pushed back two years.
Guinea, who were meant to host the 2023 AFCON, will now take centre stage in 2025.
Who has qualified for AFCON 2023?
Nation | Method of qualification | Previous best AFCON finish |
|---|---|---|
Ivory Coast | Hosts / Group H runners-up | Champions (1992, 2015) |
Morocco | Group K winners | Champions (1976) |
Algeria | Group F winners | Champions (1990, 2019) |
South Africa | Group K runners-up | Champions (1996) |
Senegal | Group L winners | Champions (2021) |
Burkina Faso | Group B winners | Runners-up (2013) |
Tunisia | Group J winners | Champions (2004) |
Egypt | Group D winners | Champions (1957, 1959, 1986, 1998, 2006, 2008, 2010) |
Zambia | Group H winners | Champions (2012) |
Equatorial Guinea | Group J runners-up | Fourth place (2015) |
Nigeria | Group A winners | Champions (1980, 1994, 2013) |
Guinea-Bissau | Group A runners-up | Group stage (2017, 2019, 2021) |
Cape Verde | Group B runners-up | Quarter-finals (2013) |
Mali | Group G winners | Runners-up (1972) |
Guinea | Group D runners-up | Runners-up (1976) |
Ghana | Group E winners | Champions (1963, 1965, 1978, 1982) |
Angola | Group E runners-up | Quarter-finals (2008, 2010) |
Tanzania | Group F runners-up | Group stage (1980, 2019) |
Mozambique | Group L runners-up | Group stage (1986, 1996, 1998, 2010) |
DR Congo | Group I winners | Champions (1968, 1974) |
Mauritania | Group I runners-up | Group stage (2019, 2021) |
Gambia | Group G runners-up | Quarter-finals (2021) |
Cameroon | Group C winners | Champions (1984, 1988, 2000, 2002, 2017) |
Namibia | Group C runners-up | Group stage (1998, 2008, 2019) |
AFCON 2023 groups & fixtures
Group A
Pos | Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goal difference | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1. | Equatorial Guinea | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | +6 | 7 |
2. | Nigeria | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | +2 | 7 |
3. | Ivory Coast | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | -3 | 3 |
4. | Guinea-Bissau | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | -5 | 0 |
Group A fixtures
Date / Kick-off Time (GMT) | Fixture / results | Venue |
|---|---|---|
13/01/24 / 20:00 | Ivory Coast 2-0 Guinea-Bissau | Alassane Ouattara Stadium, Abidjan |
14/01/24 / 14:00 | Nigeria 1-1 Equatorial Guinea | Alassane Ouattara Stadium, Abidjan |
18/01/24 / 14:00 | Equatorial Guinea 4-2 Guinea-Bissau | Alassane Ouattara Stadium, Abidjan |
18/01/24 / 17:00 | Ivory Coast 0-1 Nigeria | Alassane Ouattara Stadium, Abidjan |
22/01/24 / 17:00 | Equatorial Guinea 4-0 Ivory Coast | Alassane Ouattara Stadium, Abidjan |
22/01/24 / 17:00 | Guinea-Bissau 0-1 Nigeria | Felix Houphouet Boigny Stadium, Abidjan |
Group B
Pos | Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Loss | Goal difference | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1. | Cape Verde | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | +4 | 7 |
2. | Egypt | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
3. | Ghana | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | -1 | 2 |
4. | Mozambique | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | -3 | 2 |
Group B fixtures
Date / Kick-off Time (GMT) | Fixture / results | Venue |
|---|---|---|
14/01/24 / 17:00 | Egypt 2-2 Mozambique | Felix Houphouet Boigny Stadium, Abidjan |
14/01/24 / 20:00 | Ghana 1-2 Cape Verde | Felix Houphouet Boigny Stadium, Abidjan |
18/01/24 / 20:00 | Egypt 2-2 Ghana | Felix Houphouet Boigny Stadium, Abidjan |
19/01/24 / 14:00 | Cape Verde 3-0 Mozambique | Felix Houphouet Boigny Stadium, Abidjan |
22/01/24 / 20:00 | Mozambique 2-2 Ghana | Alassane Ouattara Stadium, Abidjan |
22/01/24 / 20:00 | Cape Verde 2-2 Egypt | Felix Houphouet Boigny Stadium, Abidjan |
Group C
Pos | Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goal difference | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1. | Senegal | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | +7 | 9 |
2. | Cameroon | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | -1 | 4 |
3. | Guinea | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | -1 | 4 |
4. | Gambia | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | -5 | 0 |
Group C fixtures
Date / Kick-off Time (GMT) | Fixture | Venue |
|---|---|---|
15/01/24 / 14:00 | Senegal 3-0 Gambia | Charles Konan Banny Stadium, Yamoussoukro |
15/01/24 / 17:00 | Cameroon 1-1 Guinea | Charles Konan Banny Stadium, Yamoussoukro |
19/01/24 / 17:00 | Senegal 3-1 Cameroon | Charles Konan Banny Stadium, Yamoussoukro |
19/01/24 / 20:00 | Guinea 1-0 Gambia | Charles Konan Banny Stadium, Yamoussoukro |
23/01/24 / 17:00 | Guinea 0-2 Senegal | Charles Konan Banny Stadium, Yamoussoukro |
23/01/24 / 17:00 | Gambia 2-3 Cameroon | Stade de la Paix, Bouaké |
Group D
Pos | Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goal difference | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1. | Angola | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | +3 | 7 |
2. | Burkina Faso | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | -1 | 4 |
3. | Mauritania | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | -1 | 3 |
4. | Algeria | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | -1 | 2 |
Group D fixtures
Date / Kick-off Time (GMT) | Fixture | Venue |
|---|---|---|
15/01/24 / 20:00 | Algeria 1-1 Angola | Stade de la Paix, Bouaké |
16/01/24 / 14:00 | Burkina Faso 1-0 Mauritania | Stade de la Paix, Bouaké |
20/01/24 / 14:00 | Algeria 2-2 Burkina Faso | Stade de la Paix, Bouaké |
20/01/24 / 17:00 | Mauritania 2-3 Angola | Stade de la Paix, Bouaké |
23/01/24 / 20:00 | Angola 2-0 Burkina Faso | Charles Konan Banny Stadium, Yamoussoukro |
23/01/24 / 20:00 | Mauritania 1-0 Algeria | Stade de la Paix, Bouaké |
Group E
Pos | Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goal difference | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1. | Mali | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | +2 | 5 |
2. | South Africa | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | +2 | 4 |
3. | Namibia | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | -3 | 4 |
4. | Tunisia | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | -1 | 2 |
Group E fixtures
Date / Kick-off Time (GMT) | Fixture | Venue |
|---|---|---|
16/01/24 / 17:00 | Tunisia 0-1 Namibia | Amadou Gon Coulibaly Stadium, Korhogo |
16/01/24 / 20:00 | Mali 2-0 South Africa | Amadou Gon Coulibaly Stadium, Korhogo |
20/01/24 / 20:00 | Tunisia 1-1 Mali | Amadou Gon Coulibaly Stadium, Korhogo |
21/01/24 / 20:00 | South Africa 4-0 Namibia | Amadou Gon Coulibaly Stadium, Korhogo |
24/01/24 / 17:00 | South Africa 0-0 Tunisia | Amadou Gon Coulibaly Stadium, Korhogo |
24/01/24 / 17:00 | Namibia 0-0 Mali | Laurent Pokou Stadium, San-Pédro |
Group F
Pos | Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goal difference | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1. | Morocco | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | +4 | 7 |
2. | DR Congo | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
3. | Zambia | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
4. | Tanzania | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | -3 | 2 |
Group F fixtures
Date / Kick-off Time (GMT) | Fixture | Venue |
|---|---|---|
17/01/24 / 17:00 | Morocco 3-0 Tanzania | Laurent Pokou Stadium, San-Pédro |
17/01/24 / 20:00 | DR Congo 1-1 Zambia | Laurent Pokou Stadium, San-Pédro |
21/01/24 / 14:00 | Morocco 1-1 DR Congo | Laurent Pokou Stadium, San-Pédro |
21/01/24 / 17:00 | Zambia 1-1 Tanzania | Laurent Pokou Stadium, San-Pédro |
24/01/23 / 20:00 | Tanzania 0-0 DR Congo | Amadou Gon Coulibaly Stadium, Korhogo |
24/01/23 / 20:00 | Zambia 0-1 Morocco | Laurent Pokou Stadium, San-Pédro |
AFCON 2023 knockout stages
Last 16
Date / Kick-off Time (GMT) | Fixture | Venue |
|---|---|---|
27/01/24 - 17:00 | Angola 3-0 Namibia | Stade de la Paix, Bouaké |
27/01/24 - 20:00 | Nigeria 2-0 Cameroon | Felix Houphouet Boigny Stadium, Abidjan |
28/01/24 - 17:00 | Equatorial Guinea 0-1 Guinea | Alassane Ouattara Stadium, Abidjan |
28/01/24 - 20:00 | Egypt 1-1 (7-8p) DR Congo | Laurent Pokou Stadium, San-Pédro |
29/01/24 - 17:00 | Cape Verde 1-0 Mauritania | Felix Houphouet Boigny Stadium, Abidjan |
29/01/24 - 20:00 | Senegal 1-1 (5-6p) Ivory Coast | Charles Konan Banny Stadium, Yamoussoukro |
30/01/24 - 17:00 | Mali 2-1 Burkina Faso | Amadou Gon Coulibaly Stadium, Korhogo |
30/01/24 - 20:00 | Morocco 0-2 South Africa | Laurent Pokou Stadium, San-Pédro |
Quarter-finals
Date / Kick-off Time (GMT) | Fixture | Venue |
|---|---|---|
02/02/24 - 17:00 | Nigeria 1-0 Angola | Felix Houphouet Boigny Stadium, Abidjan |
02/02/24 - 20:00 | DR Congo 3-1 Guinea | Alassane Ouattara Stadium, Abidjan |
03/02/24 - 17:00 | Mali 1-2 Ivory Coast | Stade de la Paix, Bouaké |
03/02/24 - 20:00 | Cape Verde 0-0 (1-2p) South Africa | Charles Konan Banny Stadium, Yamoussoukro |
Semi-finals
Date / Kick-off Time (GMT) | Fixture | Venue |
|---|---|---|
07/02/24 - 17:00 | Nigeria 1-1 (4-2p) South Africa | Stade de la Paix, Bouaké |
07/02/24 - 20:00 | Ivory Coast 1-0 DR Congo | Alassane Ouattara Stadium, Abidjan |
Third-place play-off
Date / Kick-off Time (GMT) | Fixture | Venue |
|---|---|---|
10/02/24 - 20:00 | South Africa 0-0 (6-5p) DR Congo | Felix Houphouet Boigny Stadium, Abidjan |
Final
Date / Kick-off Time (GMT) | Fixture | Venue |
|---|---|---|
11/02/24 - 20:00 | Nigeria 1-2 Ivory Coast | Alassane Ouattara Stadium, Abidjan |
What is the format for AFCON 2023?
The 2023 Africa Cup of Nations will follow the same format as its previous two iterations. Since 2019, 24 teams have competed in the tournament and have been divided into six groups of four.
A total of 16 teams will then progress into the knockout stage, with the four best-performing third-place teams joining the winners and runners-up of each group.
A traditional round robin then ensues until a winner is crowned. All knockout ties are played over one leg, with extra-time and penalties deciding the contest should the scores be level after 90 minutes.
How to watch AFCON 2023 on TV and live stream
Sky Sports held broadcasting rights to the 2021 AFCON, but there is not yet any news on who will take the rights for the upcoming tournament in the UK.
As it stands, beIN Sports are the only confirmed English-speaking broadcaster of the 2023 AFCON.
AFCON 2023 round dates
Round | Date |
|---|---|
Group stage | 13/01/24 - 24/01/24 |
Last 16 | 27/01/24 - 30/01/24 |
Quarter-finals | 02/02/24 - 03/02/24 |
Semi-finals | 07/02/24 |
Third place play-off | 10/02/24 |
Final | 11/02/24 |
READ MORE ABOUT AFCON 2023 AS SENEGAL LOOK TO DEFEND THEIR TITLE
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