Burkina Faso
Chinese Taipei
Nigeria

All you need to know about 2023 AFCON as Senegal aim to defend title

talksport.com, 2 January 2024, 13:53
The Africa Cup of Nations is set to begin next weekend as the continents best compete for the title in Ivory Coast.

Senegal are the reigning champions after beating Egypt on penalties in the final in 2021 with the winning spot-kick taken by Sadio Mane.

The Lions of Teranga will be out to defend their crown but Mohamed Salah will want revenge while Morocco, Algeria and the hosts are set to compete for the trophy.

AFCON 2023: Dates and times

The Africa Cup of Nations will begin on Saturday, January 13.

Group stage action continues until January 24 before the knockout stages begin three days later on January 27.

Quarter-finals will be played across February 2 and 3 while semi-finals take place on February 7.

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The 2023 AFCON final is then scheduled to take place on Sunday, February 11.

All of the games will be played at either 2pm, 5pm or 8pm UK time.

AFCON 2023: How to follow

All Africa Cup of Nations fixtures will be broadcast live on TV in the UK.

Sky Sports will be providing coverage of the tournament.

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Fans can also watch the action for free on CAF's YouTube channel.

talkSPORT and talkSPORT.com will keep you up to date with all the latest.

AFCON 2023: Stadiums

All of the games at the Africa Cup of Nations will be played across six stadiums.

Venues are spread across five host cities within the Ivory Coast - Abidjan, Yamoussoukro, Bouake, Korhogo and San Pedro.

Alassane Ouattara Stadium, Abidjan

Felix Houphouet-Boigny Stadium, Abidjan

Charles Konan Banny Stadium, Yamoussoukro

Stade de la Paix, Bouake

Amadou Gon Coulibaly Stadium, Korhogo

Laurent Pokou Stadium, San Pedro

AFCON 2023: Groups

The 24 teams have been split into six groups of four teams.

Hosts Ivory Coast are in Group A alongside Nigeria, Equatorial Guinea and Guinea-Bissau.

Salah's Egypt have been drawn in the same group as Ghana in what will be a huge battle between the African giants.

The holders Senegal are in Group C with Cameroon, setting up another heavyweight clash.

Group winners, runners up and the four best-ranked third-placed teams will advance to the knockout stages.

Group A: Ivory Coast, Nigeria, Equatorial Guinea and Guinea-Bissau

Group B: Egypt, Ghana, Cape Verde and Mozambique

Group C: Senegal, Cameroon, Guinea and The Gambia

Group D: Algeria, Burkina Faso, Mauritania and Angola

Group E: Tunisia, Mali, South Africa and Namibia

Group F: Morocco, DR Congo, Zambia and Tanzania

AFCON 2023: Schedule

(All UK kick-off times)

Saturday, January 13

Ivory Coast vs Guinea-Bissau - 8pm

Sunday, January 14

Nigeria vs Equatorial Guinea - 2pm

Egypt vs Mozambique - 5pm

Ghana vs Cape Verde - 8pm

Monday, January 15

Senegal vs The Gambia - 2pm

Cameroon vs Guinea - 5pm

Algeria vs Angola - 8pm

Tuesday, January 16

Burkina Faso vs Mauritania - 2pm

Tunisia vs Namibia - 5pm

Mali vs South Africa - 8pm

Wednesday, January 17

Morocco vs Tanzania - 5pm

DR Congo vs Zambia - 8pm

Thursday, January 18

Equatorial Guinea vs Guinea-Bissau - 2pm

Ivory Coast vs Nigeria - 5pm

Egypt vs Ghana - 8pm

Friday, January 19

Cape Verde vs Mozambique - 2pm

Senegal vs Cameroon - 5pm

Guinea vs The Gambia - 8pm

Saturday, January 20

Algeria vs Burkina Faso - 2pm

Mauritania vs Angola - 5pm

Tunisia vs Mali - 8pm

Sunday, January 21

Morocco vs DR Congo - 2pm

Zambia vs Tanzania - 5pm

South Africa vs Namibia - 8pm

Monday, January 22

Equatorial Guinea vs Ivory Coast - 5pm

Guinea-Bissau vs Nigeria - 5pm

Cape Verde vs Egypt - 8pm

Mozambique vs Ghana - 8pm

Tuesday, January 23

The Gambia vs Cameroon - 5pm

Guinea vs Senegal - 5pm

Angola vs Burkina Faso - 8pm

Mauritania vs Algeria - 8pm

Wednesday, January 24

Namibia vs Mali - 5pm

South Africa vs Tunisia - 5pm

Tanzania vs DR Congo - 8pm

Zambia vs Morocco - 8pm

Saturday, January 27

R16 1: Group D Winner vs 3rd Place Group B/E/F - 5pm

R16 2: Group A Second Place vs Group C Second Place - 8pm

Sunday, January 28

R16 2: Group A Winner vs 3rd Place Group C/D/E - 5pm

R16 3: Group B Second Place vs Group F Second Place - 8pm

Monday, January 29

R16 4: Group B Winner vs 3rd Place Group A/C/D - 5pm

R16 5: Group C Winner vs 3rd Place Group A/B/F - 8pm

Tuesday, January 30

R16 7: Group E Winner vs Group D Second Place - 5pm

R16 8: Group F Winner vs Group E Second Place - 8pm

Friday, February 2

Quarter-Final 1: Winner of R16 2 vs Winner of R16 1 - 5pm

Quarter-Final 2: Winner of R16 4 vs Winner of R16 3 - 8pm

Saturday, February 3

Quarter-Final 3: Winner of R16 7 vs Winner of R16 6 - 5pm

Quarter-Final 4: Winner of R16 5 vs Winner of R16 8 - 8pm

Wednesday, February 7

Semi-final 1: Winner of QF1 vs Winner of QF4 - 5pm

Semi-Final 2: Winner of QF3 vs Winner of QF2 - 8pm

Saturday, February 10

Third-place play-off: SF1 loser vs SF2 loser - 8pm

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