The president of the COCAN, Amichia François, recently shared insights into the success of the 34th edition of the African Nations Cup, which took place in Côte d’Ivoire from January 13 to February 11, 2024.
During a reward ceremony for the staff and partners of COCAN (African Nations Cup Organizing Committee), Amichia François stated that the 34th edition of the African Nations Cup is considered by the public opinion, media, and experts on the event to be the best of all editions of the competition.
According to the head of COCAN, the triumph of CAN 2023 can be attributed to various impressive factors such as the quality of football played, with a total of 119 goals scored during the matches and 44 achieved during penalty shootouts. The enthusiastic participation of fans is also notable, with an 80% stadium attendance rate. Television audience figures were also exceptional, with two billion viewers spread across 80 countries where the competition was broadcast.
The former Minister of Sports also referred to the quality and number of competition facilities, the number of sponsors and partners (over 50% more compared to the previous CAN, according to CAF and 10 times more revenue compared to the 33rd edition of CAN). “According to observers, such records have never been achieved during an African Nations Cup final phase, thus corroborating the assertions that describe the CAN of hospitality, our CAN, as the best of all CAN. So, it’s not out of chauvinism that I say this,” supported the mayor of Treichville.
François Amichia proudly emphasized that the successes achieved are the result of several months of diligent effort and unwavering dedication from COCAN staff, dedicated to fulfilling a significant mission for the progress and prosperity of the nation. He also highlighted the hard work and commitment of the committee presidents and their teams. “The COCAN owes the best of what it presented to the world to the effort and commitment of these men and women. Each in their domain and within the compartment that was theirs, was invested in meeting our common challenge, which was to organize the most attractive CAN. To all, I express my gratitude,” he stated.
It is noteworthy that to ensure the successful organization of CAN 2023, Amichia François’s team based their approach on a strategy that promoted internal skills to deliver the event and leave a material and intangible legacy for Côte d’Ivoire and future generations. “That’s why we addressed the question of human capital by recruiting and training young people who had just graduated from the National Institute of Youth and Sports or who were in their first year of work at the National Sports Office. To these young people, others from various socio-professional sectors were associated to form the team that would ensure the material organization of CAN,” he explained.
