With lower than 5 days to kick off Africa’s largest soccer occasion, the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations, hosted by Cote d’Ivoire, begins Friday.
PUNCH On-line experiences that the AFCON 2023 will happen in six stadiums.
In line with CAFOnline, they embrace: Olympic Stadium of Ebimpe, Felix Houphouet-Boigny Stadium, Peace Stadium, Stadium of Korhogo, Laurent Pokou Stadium, and Charles Konan Banny Stadium, all within the host nation.
Right here is all that you must know concerning the six stadiums:
Olympic Stadium of Ebimpe
The 60,000-capacity stadium is located in Abidjan and was constructed from 2016 to 2020.
Positioned in one of many nation’s financial hubs, the town of Abidjan, the Olympic Stadium of Epimbe will play host to the opening and shutting ceremonies of the match.
The 60,000-seater capability area headlines one among many infrastructure legacies of the match for the host nation and can convey a number of financial alternatives after the ultimate whistle is sounded.
Notably, the development of the world-class venue started in 2016 with the breaking of floor for the multi-purpose venue.
It was then formally inaugurated on October 3, 2020, in a ceremony attended by senior authorities ministers and officers earlier than an exhibition match between two of the nation’s largest golf equipment, Asec Mimosas and Africa Sports activities Abidjan.
Along with its giant internet hosting capability, the Olympic Stadium is a multi-purpose venue that boasts many world-class facilities, comparable to an athletic monitor, convention services, gyms, an auditorium, and VIP services.
Felix Houphouet-Boigny Stadium
The 29,000-capacity stadium is located in Abidjan and was inbuilt 1952. It was renovated between 2021 and 2023.
Named after the founding father of Cote d’Ivoire and the nation’s first Head of State, President Felix Houphouet-Boigny, one of many nation’s heritage venues will play host to Africa’s largest occasion for the second time, having been one of many two host venues again in 1984.
In step with assembly the required CAF requirements, the stadium is present process full renovations to its structural set-up, seating, pitch, dressing rooms, and hospitality suites.
The seating capability has doubled to 33,000 forward of the match, together with different facility upgrades to the venue.
Along with soccer, the Felix Houphouet-Boigny Stadium boasts an athletic monitor and has additionally hosted some main sporting codes and occasions in Abidjan.
Peace Stadium
The 40,000-capacity stadium is located in Bouake and was inbuilt 1983. It was renovated between 2019 and 2023.
One among Cote d’Ivoire’s most iconic soccer stadiums, the Peace Stadium, situated within the nation’s second-largest metropolis of Bouake, might be internet hosting its second TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations after being one of many host venues again in 1984.
One of many venue’s most memorable occasions consists of the dramatic semi-final 5-4 penalty win by Cameroon in opposition to Algeria within the 1984 TotalEnergies AFCON, the place the Indomitable Lions went on to say the title.
The stadium has since obtained a serious facelift from its unique 15 000 to the now 40 000 capability seating, amongst different upgrades forward of the match.
Further upgrades embrace a completely outfitted media centre, auditorium, convention services, and an upgraded spectator parking facility to accommodate the hundreds of anticipated followers.
Stadium of Korhogo
The 20,000-capacity stadium is located in Korhogo and was constructed from 2019 to 2023.
Positioned within the northern a part of Cote D’Ivoire’s metropolis of Korhogo, the Stadium of Korhogo is likely one of the legacies that can include internet hosting a world occasion of the magnitude of the TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations Cote D’Ivoire 2023.
The newly constructed stadium will cowl an unlimited 20.17 hectares of land so as to add to the aesthetic great thing about the town.
The internet hosting capability might be 20,000, with a top quality pure grass discipline, an athletics monitor, a media centre, a broadcast compound, in addition to different stadium services required for internet hosting worldwide occasions such because the TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations.
Laurent Pokou Stadium
The 20,000-capacity stadium is located in San Pedro and was constructed from 2019 to 2023.
An architectural magnificence situated within the wealthy cultural area of Poro, the San Pedro Stadium additionally types a part of the infrastructure legacy of internet hosting the TotalEnergies AFCON Cote d’Ivoire 2023.
With building beginning in 2018, the 20,000-seater is poised to be a jewel for the Poro area.
Masking 23.33 hectares of land, the stadium’s elegant design might be complemented by its world-class services, which embrace a state-of-the-art pure grass pitch.
Different services embrace convention centres, a media centre, and others that can drive financial exercise after the ultimate whistle is sounded.
Charles Konan Banny Stadium
The 20,000-capacity stadium is located in Yamoussoukro and was inbuilt 2019–2021.
Positioned within the nation’s capital, Yamoussoukro, which is consistently abuzz with financial exercise.
The newly constructed Yamoussoukro Stadium types a part of the town’s monumental structure and can add to the town’s financial hub of exercise after the match.
After a two-year building, the stadium hosted its first soccer match on June 3, which served as a qualifier for the TotalEnergies AFCON Cote d’Ivoire 2023 finals because the hosts edged Zambia 3-1 on the grand opening.
The Yamoussoukro Stadium has a seating capability of 20,000, an athletics monitor, media services, hospitality suites, and convention centres.
PUNCH On-line experiences that the official title sponsor of the AFCON 2023 is Whole Energies.