Afcon: Things to know before 2024 kick-off

HERE are some things about the Africa Cup of Nations before the 2024 tournament kicks off tonight with a Group A clash between hosts Ivory Coast and Guinea-Bissau at 10pm (South African time):

• Ivory Coast are staging the biggest African sport event a second time, with Cameroon winning there in 1984. Nigeria finished second and Algeria third.

• The 1984 edition comprised eight countries and lasted 15 days – 40 years later the number of participants has trebled to 24.

• Ivory Coast flopped when they first hosted the tournament, with a victory over Togo followed by losses to Egypt and Cameroon and elimination after the group stage.

• The 2024 tournament will comprise 52 matches over 30 days – 36 across six groups and 16 in the knockout phase.

• Commercial capital Abidjan will host 20 matches in two stadiums. Nine

will be played in Bouake, while San Pedro and Yamoussoukro will host eight each, and seven in Korhogo.w

• The opening match between Ivory Coast and Guinea-Bissau and the February 11 final are among 10 fixtures* set for the new 60 000-seat Alhassane Ouattara stadium in Abidjan.

• Stadiums with a 20 000-seat capacity were built for the Cup of Nations in Korhogo, San Pedro and the capital, Yamoussoukro.

• The 40 000-seat ground in Bouake as well as the 30 000-capacity Felix Houphouet-Boigny Stadium in Abidjan were renovated for the biennial tournament.

• Should teams finish level on points in a mini-league, head-to-head records will be the first tie-breaker, followed by goal difference, then goals scored in all group matches.

• If teams are still inseparable, lots will be drawn to determine final placings. This last occurred in 2015 with Guinea advancing to the quarter-finals at the expense of Mali.

• VAR will be used in all 52 matches with 12 officials selected to monitor matches. There will also be 26 referees and 30 assistant referees at the tournament.

• In the knock-out phase, drawn matches will go to extra time, then a penalty shoot-out if necessary to determine winners. Matches decided by penalties are officially classified as draws.

• The first knock-out stage – the round of 16 – will consist of the six group winners, six group runners-up and the four highest ranked thirdplaced teams.

• The following tie-breakers will be used to choose the best four thirdplaced teams: match points, goal difference, then goals scored in all group matches, drawing of lots.

• Qualifiers were permitted squads of up to 27 players. However, only 23 – 11 starters and 12 substitutes – can be chosen for matches.

• A record $7 million dollars (about R131m) goes to the winners – a 40% increase from the last tournament won by Senegal in 2022.

The runners-up will pocket $4m. | AFP

THE Africa Cup of Nations Group A match schedule.