Côte d’Ivoire overcomes challenges and accelerates readiness for Africa Cup of Nations
Côte d’Ivoire is accelerating its preparations for the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), scheduled to kick off on January 13. Overcoming initial concerns, particularly those arising from adverse weather conditions in September, the country is now making significant progress.
Notably, the Ebimpé stadium’s pitch, which suffered damage from a storm, has undergone successful and intensive repairs.
In addition to Ebimpé, five other stadiums across Abidjan, Yamoussoukro, Bouaké, San Pedro, and Korhogo will host matches.
The total investment for AFCON, totaling around $1.5 billion, has also catalyzed various infrastructure projects.
Among these, the complete refurbishment of the 350-kilometer coastal road connecting Abidjan to the major port of San Pedro stands out.
This initiative has effectively halved the travel time between the two cities. Furthermore, an extension of an expressway connecting Abidjan to Yamoussoukro and Bouaké, both host cities, has been completed.
Several “AFCON villages” designed to accommodate participating teams have also been swiftly constructed.
Anticipating the influx of up to 1.5 million visitors, AFCON is seen as a pivotal event for Côte d’Ivoire, which last hosted the tournament in 1984 with only eight participating nations.
While security remains a paramount concern, given the country’s proximity to regions with jihadist threats, authorities are taking comprehensive measures.
This includes the deployment of approximately 17,000 defense and security personnel, along with 2,500 stewards, to ensure the smooth and secure conduct of the competition.
In spite of these challenges, Ivory Coast exudes confidence and composure in its preparations, positioning itself to host an AFCON of unprecedented magnitude and significance.
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Source: SENEWEB
