Freetown | 18th February 2024 | Vertex
By Ibrahim Sorious Samura
It’s exactly a week ago when the TotalEnergies 2023 African Cup of Nations came to an exciting conclusion in a cracking and entertaining final between the Super Eagles of Nigeria vs the Elephants of Cรดte D’Ivoire on Sunday 11th February 2024 at the Alassane Ouattara Ebimpe Stadium in Abidjan, Cรดte D’Ivoire. It was a colourful and sensational closing ceremony to watch, but most amazing was Cรดte D’Ivoire’s journey to success.
The host nation (Cรดte D’Ivoire’s) story was one of magical, dramatic, despair, and then, of hope.
After playing 3 matches in Group A, the hosts were only able to win one and lose 2, leaving them with just 3 points on the brink of elimination after a humiliating 4-0 defeat by Equatorial Guinea in their final Group stage match. The Cรดte D’Ivoire story changed completely following Morocco’s 1-0 defeat over Zambia in Group F. This result handed Ivory Coast a place in the round of 16, where they went on to defeat the AFCON defending champions Senegal by 2-1, and with 10 men, they defeated Mali by 2-1 in extra-time in the quarter-finals.
The hosts went into the semis with an invigorating spirit, with a whole nation behind them. They defeated a very strong DR Congo side by 1-0. This time, it was a story of Sebastian Haller, from battling cancer a year ago to becoming a hero at the AFCON. Haller scored both winning goals for Ivory Coast in the semifinal against DR Congo and in the final against Nigeria.
The 2023 AFCON tournament was widely considered the best and most dramatic, firstly, due to the fact that the well established or highly ranked footballing nations like Egypt, Senegal, Cameroon, Algeria, Morocco and Ghana made their early exits in the tournament. The surprising results sent a shockwaves across the world, leaving the outcomes very unpredictable. Eventually, the hosts Cรดte D’Ivoire, who qualified from the group stage as ‘best losers’, stunned the world by winning the tournament from a 2-1 victory against Nigeria.
In its entirety, the 2023 AFCON tournament was a successful one. CAF and the Hosts (Ivory Coast) did extremely well in organising the continent’s biggest football showpiece. Equipment, hospitality, organisation, and coordination were topnotch throughout the tournament, except for a few incidents of tickets being recycled in the black markets at higher prices.
Security was well handled and managed. No cause for alarm. Driving across Abidjan, you would hardly see a military or police officer, and there was a smooth flow of traffic. No checkpoints or roadblocks in the city. The electricity and road networks were incredible, making it easier for a free-flow.
The spirit of the Africanism resonated well with the resilient nature of the Ivorians, whose passion and dedication to the tournament was echoed in strings of sounds and rhythms created by talented musicians. Throughout the tournament, a song named ‘COUP DU MARTEAU‘ by Ivorian singer Tam Sir and others became the unofficial theme song of the 2023 AFCON tournament. Its popularity transcends boundaries, languages, and colours, bringing all Africans on a united dance floor.
Marking the success of the tournament, a staggering and historic number of about 2 billion viewers watched the tournament from over 180 countries.
For the first time, CAF has recorded a huge profit margin from commercials and TV rights sold to broadcasters across the world. All thanks to the astute leadership of the CAF President Patrice Motsepe and his Executive Committee Members. President Motsepe was seen thanking the FIFA Council Member and CAF Executive Committee Member Isha Johansen for her immense contributions to the success of this tournament.
CAF Executive 
CAF President and the media 
Fifa and CAF Executive Committee Member, Isha Johansen
Madam Johansen was pivotal in leading CAF in making crucial decisions leading to its TV and commercial successes. She brought in her experience in organising the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar and the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia. Both tournaments were successful in TV and commercials.
Another defining moment of the tournament was the officiating of matches. Both in-field and VAR decisions at the 2023 AFCON were globally applauded, putting African football among the best in the world.
Despite the infrastructural challenges in football in Africa, it was incredible to see the quality of football displayed by our African talents, who play at home and abroad.
In the last two editions, coaches of both winners (Senegal and Ivory Coast) were local coaches. After a poor start to the 2023 AFCON, Ivory Coast had to sack French Coach Jean-Louis Gasset and employed an Ivorian Coach Emerse Faรฉ, who then went on to win the tournament unbeaten and won Coach of the tournament. This is just a classic example of how the game has evolved in Africa.
I arrived in Abidjan from Sierra Leone on the 3rd February on the special invitation of CAF and FIFA/CAF Executive Committee Member Madam Isha Johansen. The trip was a great experience for me. Meeting and networking with the crรจme de la crรจme in football.
I was entreated to a first-class treatment. I got to enjoy the luxuries and privileges around the AFCON tournament.
From participating in the CAF Rebranding Africa forum to VIP dinners and meetings. I also enjoyed CAF’s VIP hospitality. From VIP shuttle or fleets to a free flight to Bouakรฉ and back to Abidjan on board a special CAF flight in the semifinals between Nigeria vs South Africa.
Apart from the media accreditation given to me, I was also a recipient of VIP and VVIP tickets for the 3 matches I watched.
It was a privilege for me meeting with top personalities and colleague journalists. They the CAF President Patrice Motsepe, former Arsenal and Nigeria International Nwankwo Kanu, former Arsenal and Togo International Emmanuel Adebayor, CAF General Secretary Veron Mosengo-Omba, Kenyan journalts Collins and Arap Uria, Nigerian journalists Hassan, Shina and Mayokun, CAF Head of Media and Communications Luxolo September, and several others.
Lastly, the CAF Media Centre in Abidjan was a perfect hub for journalists from across the world. The Centre played host to thousands of journalists, providing technical support, itinerary and guidance. It was easier for the media to attend press conferences. The AFCON watch party was an integral aspect of what the Centre offered. Fans and media practitioners gathered there on match-days to watch matches on the big screens.
The AFCON 2023 Cรดte D’Ivoire edition will always be a special moment for me. My 10 days stay in Abidjan were incredible.
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