PHOTO/CAFOnlineIn less than a month, the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) finals will kick off in Ivory Coast as the continental showpiece welcomes its 34th edition. Ivory Coast will be hosting the AFCON tournament for the second time; they hosted the first finals in 1984, and the opening game for this edition will be staged on January 13, where the Elephants will play Guinnea-Bissau. Official mascot and match ballAkwaba was launched as AFCON's official mascot. The official match ball, Pokou, honours Laurent Pokou, who is an Ivory Coast legend. Group A rivals, Nigeria and Ivory Coast, who will meet on January 18 at the Alassane Ouattara Stadium in Abidjan, are also seen as favourites.

Source: Daily Nation December 16, 2023 14:07 UTC