By MICHAEL MIYOBA
THE much-anticipated 2023 TotalEnergies African Cup of Nations (AFCON) finally kicks off today with hosts Ivory Coast facing Guinea Bissau in the first game of the tournament at the 60, 000-seater Olympic Stadium of Ebimpé in Abidjan.
Over 20 nations, 24 to be specific have converged in Ivory Coast to fight for the coveted AFCON trophy and the most popular question every soccer loving African is asking is who is going to scoop the US$7 million-rich gold coated AFCON crown?
CAF announced on January 4 a 40 percent increase in the prize money for the winner of the 34th edition of the AFCON.
While the winners will pocket US$7 million, the runner-up will get US$4 million while the other two semi-finalist and the other four quarter-finalists will receive US$2.5 million and US$ $1.3 million respectively.
“CAF has made significant progress over the past two years in increasing the prize money of the AFCON and all its other major competitions. We have increased the prize money of the AFCON winner to US$7, 000, 000 which is a 40 percent increase from the previous AFCON prize money,” CAF president Patrice Motsepe said.
“I am confident that a portion of the prize money will contribute to developing football and also benefit all the football stakeholders, as well as assist our member associations with their administrations,” Motsepe added.
While the prize money has been improved, followers of the beautiful game will hope that the huge moneys at stake will inspire an improved and exciting performance from the stars of the continent.
Hosts Ivory Coast, three-time champions Nigeria, Guinea-Bissau and Equatorial Guinea will compete in Group A while Group B has seven-time champions Egypt, four-time champions Ghana, Cape Verde and Mozambique.
Defending champions Senegal will compete in Group C with Cameroon, Guinea and Gambia while North African giants Algeria, who scooped the competition in 2019, Burkina Faso, Mauritania and Angola will face off in Group D.
Group E has 2004 champions Tunisia, Mali and the Southern African duo of South Africa and Namibia.
Zambia, champions in 2012, are in Group F consisting of neighbours Congo DR, Tanzania and Morocco, who became the first African team to reach the semifinals at a World Cup championship having been eliminated by France at the 2022 Qatar showpiece which was eventually scooped by Argentina.
The Chipolopolo under the tutorage of experienced gaffer in Avram Grant return to the prestigious continental championship for the first time in eight years after missing the last three editions.
Zambia returns with a young squad led by 2012 AFCON winning hero Stopila Sunzu and 2017 BBC Young African footballer of the year Patson Daka.
Two teams from each Group will progress to the knockout stage of the competition.
Will the 2012 champions defy the odds and go all the way to scoop their second continental championship? Or maybe the defending champions Senegal will become the first national team to retain the AFCON title since Egypt in 2010?
Can Egyptian star man Mohamed Salah lead the most successful nation in the history of the competition to winning their eighth AFCON title which would be his first after he found himself in the losing end during the 2021 and 2017 finals?
Will Napoli Star and current African Footballer of the Year Victor Osimhen lead Nigeria to victory for the first time since 2013 after he emerged as the top scorer with 10 goals during the qualifiers? Will the AFCON give birth to any new stars?
So many questions which beg answers. May the best team win it!
