“It will be electric!”: Ivory Coast is preparing to host the 34th African Cup of Nations, which begins on Saturday, something to delight the many football fans known for their fervor in this country which hoped to organize again the event for 40 years.
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At the Cocody market, in the center of the economic capital Abidjan, Malian, Senegalese and Ivorian traders are huddled together, convinced of the chances of their respective selections.
“Ivory Coast will beat Mali in the final!”, says one. “Impossible, it will be Senegal!”, replies the other.
Before Saturday’s opening match between the host country and Guinea-Bissau, the atmosphere is gradually building.
And if many Abidjan residents fear traffic jams on match days in a city that is usually already congested, the tendency is rather towards enthusiasm among the population.
“It will be a crazy atmosphere because everyone knows Ivory Coast, a country of cheerfulness and joy!” predicts Lassina Kanta, a 21-year-old supporter who hopes to go to the stadium for the opening match.
“Like hotcakes!”
And the craze goes beyond the limits of Abidjan.
“I never had the chance to attend an African Cup. I am a happy man today and I will not miss any match at the stadium,” assures AFP Oumar Doumbia, mechanic in Bouaké (center ) where Burkina Faso and Algeria will notably play.
Ivory Coast has only organized the CAN once, in 1984, a different era: only eight teams were lined up, compared to 24 today.
In the economic capital, white balloons labeled “Akwaba” – “Welcome” in the Akan language – dot the bridge leading to the Plateau district and advertising panels in the colors of the Elephants selection abound.
In the markets, traders used to selling statuettes, masks and fabrics have added replicas of the official jersey, sold for around ten euros, to their items in recent days.
“The jerseys are selling like hotcakes! There are people who become traders just to sell the jerseys,” explains one of them, Lamine Koné.
The 24 selections are expected in five cities: in addition to Abidjan and its two stadiums, the teams will be distributed between the political capital Yamoussoukro, the large city of Bouaké, the port of San Pedro (southwest) and Korogo (north).
“Let us mobilize to make this CAN a great celebration of youth, Ivorian hospitality and African brotherhood,” declared President Alassane Ouattara during his New Year’s speech.
The success of this CAN has indeed become an absolute priority for the authorities who hope to use the competition as a showcase for the country’s development.
Because the government did not skimp on the means to ensure the success of the event: 1.5 billion dollars were invested in total.
1.5 million visitors expected
In addition to the six stadiums built or renovated, bridges, roads, hotels and CAN cities to house the teams have emerged in recent years. With a clear boost at the end of 2023.
Robert Beugré Mambé, the new head of government appointed in October – who also inherited the Sports portfolio -, has made numerous trips to the host cities to put pressure on the latest projects.
Thursday, during the council of ministers, he assured that Côte d’Ivoire was ready at all levels: “Sports infrastructure, reception system, transport and mobility”.
The authorities definitely want to turn the page on the fiasco of September 12 when the Ivory Coast-Mali friendly match was interrupted due to the pitch being soaked by a storm, at the Ebimpé stadium in the suburbs of Abidjan.
Some 20,000 young volunteers, 17,000 members of the police and 2,500 stewards will be mobilized for this month of competition, during which the organizers expect up to 1.5 million visitors, notably from qualified neighboring countries such as Mali, Burkina, Guinea and Ghana.
Until the final on February 11, the competition, won in 2022 by Senegal, is very open. The Elephants of Côte d’Ivoire have won it twice, in 1992 and 2015.
With AFP