Taifa Stars to open AFCON 2023 campaign against Morocco

CECAFA’s sole flag bearers at the TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2023 will open their campaign with FIFA World Cup semi finalists Morocco.

The TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations 2023 will take place in Cote d’Ivoire between 13 January to 11 February 2024.

Tanzania who were last Thursday drawn in Group F will take on Morocco in their opening match on January 17th at the Stade Laurent Pokou, San Pedro.

Coach Adel Amrouche’s side will play their second match against Zambia in the same Stadium on January 21st, and wind up with their last group match against DR Congo three days later at the Stad Amadou Gon Coulibaly, Karhogo.

Taifa Stars assistant coach Suleiman Hemed has made it clear that there is no team that is weak. ” There is no easy team or group. For us, we have been drawn against two teams which we have played against before so they are familiar to us. We have an opportunity as a team to plan and execute well and I am confident we can get something good from this group,” added Hemed.

In their last appearance at the 2019 AFCON in Egypt, the Taifa Stars failed to make it out of the group stage.

Hosts Cote d’Ivoire have been placed in Group A alongside Nigeria, Equatorial Guinea and Guinea Bissau. The AFCON 2023 which will feature 24 teams will have matches take place at six venues across the country, including newly constructed stadiums in Abidjan, Korhogo and San Pedro.

Group A: Ivory Coast, Nigeria, Equatorial Guinea, Guinea Bissau

Group B: Egypt, Ghana, Cape Verde Islands, Mozambique

Group C: Senegal, Cameroon, Guinea, Gambia

Group D: Algeria, Burkina Faso, Mauritania, Angola

Group E: Tunisia, Mali, South Africa, Namibia

Group F: Morocco, DR Congo, Zambia, Tanzania