Music star Akon to host Cote d’Ivoire 2023 Africa Cup of Nations draw

By Oyediji Oluwaseun Babatunde

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has announced music icon, Akon as the host of the 2023 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) draw.

The Senegalese musician will be joined by Toure to host the draw which will pit the 24 qualified teams into six groups of four.

The draw will be held at the brand-new Parc Des Expositions venue in Abidjan, Ivory Coast capital on Thursday.

The teams have been pitted into four pots based on the latest FIFA rankings ahead of the draw.

Teams from the same pots can’t meet each other.

Senegal are the defending champions and are in Pot 1 alongside host, Ivory Coast, Morocco, Tunisia, Algeria, and Egypt.

Host, Ivory will be the first team to be drawn in Group A.

The 24 qualified teams are Cote d’Ivoire (hosts), Algeria, Angola, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Congo DR, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Senegal, South Africa, Tanzania, Tunisia and Zambia.

The 34th edition of the biggest event on African soil takes place in Cote d’Ivoire from 13 January to 11 February 2024