COCAN 2023 Cooperation Official to QNA: We Seek to Present Exceptional Version of Continental Tournament Next Year

 

 

Doha, October 24 (QNA) - Al Junaid Azid Bey, Cooperation Official with Arab Countries in the Organizing Committee for the Côte d'Ivoire 2023 African Cup of Nations soccer tournament (COCAN ) confirmed the full readiness with less than 70 days remaining until the starting whistle, stressing that preparations have reached their final stages and all efforts are focused on presenting an exceptional version of the continental championship, which is of great interest to football fans.

The African official added in an interview with Qatar News Agency (QNA) that the organizing committee was keen to benefit from the experiences of other countries in the process of hosting major tournaments. This was done by attending the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 finals and attending some matches through a delegation consisting of all those responsible for the hosting file for the African Championship, in order to learn about the pioneering Qatari experience in organizing, gain experience and benefit at all levels.

"We are happy with the great successes that the State of Qatar has achieved in hosting many sporting events and major tournaments that received great praise, especially the great and impressive organizing of the last year World Cup that everyone witnessed," he said.      

He stated that during the last period, some meetings were held with officials of the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy (SC) and the Qatar Football Association (QFA) to discuss aspects of cooperation and activate the agreements that were signed in a previous period, adding that the organizing committee was keen throughout the preparations process to follow up on all the details, whether in the stadiums hosting the continental championship or other sectors, and there are some issues related to the transportation sector that they seek to overcome before the start, through cooperation with countries that have great experience in this field.

The cooperation official in the organizing committee of the African Cup of Nations pointed out that the geographical location of Côte d'Ivoire, in light of the shared land borders with 6 neighboring countries, confirms that the number of public attendance will reach its peak in the tournament, given the great passion for football in Africa, in addition to the moderate climate during the tournament.

At the end of his remarks to QNA, Azid Bey expressed his hope that the Côte d'Ivoire national team will succeed in going far in the continental championship and be able to register its presence among the poles of African football, as well as ensuring the success of the continental championship at all levels.

This is the 34th edition of the continental championship, and the second hosted by Côte d'Ivoire after the first in 1984, when Cameroon won the title for the first time in its history.

The tournament will be held with the participation of 24 teams from Jan. 13 to Feb. 11, 2024, in 6 stadiums distributed in 5 cities: the capital, Abidjan, Yamoussoukro, Bouaké, Korhogo, and San Pedro.

The African Union had announced that the next two editions would be held in 2025 in Morocco and 2027 in three countries: Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania.

It is noteworthy that Cameroon hosted the last edition, and the Senegalese team won the title after defeating its Egyptian counterpart on penalties. (QNA)