2023 Africa Cup of Nations fixtures, groups and format explained

The finest 24 teams on the continent will be competing for Africa’s most prestigious title over four weeks of competition, culminating in the final on Sunday, February 11 in Abidjan.

There are five host cities in Ivory Coast, with matches scheduled for the capital Yamoussoukro, Korhogo, Bouake, San-Pedro and the 60,000-capacity Alassane Ouattara Stadium in Abidjan, which will host the final.

Africa’s best have been divided into six groups of four teams. Defending champions Senegal are in Group C with former champions Cameroon, while hosts Ivory Coast face perennial contenders Nigeria in Group A. Seven-time winners Egypt are pooled with Ghana in Group B.

Morocco, the highest FIFA-ranked team in the competition, face DR Congo and minnows Tanzania in Group F. Two-time champions Algeria will play 2013 runner-up Burkina Faso and Mauritania in Group D. Finally, South Africa are in a difficult group with Tunisia and Mali.

Ivory Coast face 106th-ranked Guinea-Bissau in the highly-anticipated tournament opener in Abidjan on January 13.

The top two teams in each pool guarantee their place in the Round of 16. Meanwhile, the third-place team in each group will be ranked from 1-6 based on points accumulated in the Group Stage. The top four will sneak into the Round of 16, which starts on January 27.

From there, it’s knockout football all the way to the grand final on February 11 in the beautiful Abidjan.

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Africa Cup of Nations 2023 schedule and dates:

Group Stage: January 13-24, 2024

Round of 16: January 27-30, 2024

Quarter-finals: February 2-3, 2024

Semi-finals: February 7, 2024

Third-place play-off: February 10, 2024

Final: February 11, 2024

Africa Cup of Nations 2023 group stage fixtures:

SATURDAY JANUARY 13

GROUP A: Ivory Coast v Guinea-Bissau, 8pm (SA 10pm)

SUNDAY JANUARY 14

GROUP A: Nigeria v Equatorial Guinea, 2pm (SA 4pm)

GROUP B: Egypt v Mozambique, 5pm (SA 7pm; Ghana v Cape Verde, 8pm (SA 10pm)

MONDAY JANUARY 15

GROUP C: Senegal v Gambia, 2pm (SA 4pm); Cameroon v Guinea, 5pm (SA 7pm)

GROUP D: Algeria v Angola, 8pm (SA 10pm)

TUESDAY JANUARY 16

GROUP D: Burkina Faso v Mauritania, 2pm (SA 4pm)

GROUP E: Tunisia v Namibia, 5pm (SA 7pm); Mali v South Africa, 8pm (SA 10pm)

WEDNESDAY JANUARY 17

GROUP F: Morocco v Tanzania, 5pm (SA 7pm); DR Congo v Zambia, 8pm (SA 10pm)

THURSDAY JANUARY 18

GROUP A: Equatorial Guinea v Guinea-Bissau, 2pm (SA 4pm); Ivory Coast v Nigeria, 5pm (SA 7pm)

GROUP B: Egypt v Ghana, 8pm (SA 10pm)

FRIDAY JANUARY 19

GROUP B: Cape Verde v Mozambique, 2pm (SA 4pm)

GROUP C: Senegal v Cameroon, 5pm (SA 7pm); Guinea v Gambia, 8pm (SA 10pm)

SATURDAY JANUARY 20

GROUP D: Algeria v Burkina Faso, 2pm (SA 4pm); Mauritania v Angola, 5pm (SA 7pm)

GROUP E: Tunisia v Mali, 8pm (SA 10pm)

SUNDAY JANUARY 21

GROUP E: South Africa v Namibia, 8pm (SA 10pm)

GROUP F: Morocco v DR Congo, 2pm (SA 4pm); Zambia v Tanzania, 5pm (SA 7pm)

MONDAY JANUARY 22

GROUP A: Equatorial Guinea v Ivory Coast, 5pm (SA 7pm); Guinea-Bissau v Nigeria, 5pm (SA 7pm)

GROUP B: Cape Verde v Egypt, 8pm (SA 10pm); Mozambique v Ghana 8pm (SA 10pm)

TUESDAY JANUARY 23

GROUP C: Gambia v Cameroon, 5pm (SA 7pm); Guinea v Senegal, 5pm (SA 7pm)

GROUP D: Angola v Burkina Faso, 8pm (SA 10pm); Mauritania v Algeria, 8pm (SA 10pm)

WEDNESDAY JANUARY 24

GROUP E: Namibia v Mali, 5pm (SA 7pm); South Africa v Tunisia, 5pm (SA 7pm)

GROUP F: Tanzania v DR Congo, 8pm (SA 10pm); Zambia v Morocco, 8pm (SA 10pm)

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