By Victor Kanayo
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has announced official Mascot for the upcoming 2023 Africa Cup of Nations scheduled for 2024.
According to CAF, the name of the Mascot is Akwaba.
Disclosing this via its website after an executive committee meeting in Rabat, Morocco, in a statement, CAF wrote, “The Organising Committee (‘’COCAN’’) in collaboration with the Government of Côte d’Ivoire and CAF, unveiled the official Mascot of the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations Côte d’Ivoire 2023 in Abidjan on Friday night.
“The official Mascot, named “AKWABA”, was introduced to the Ivorian people during a launch event in Abidjan, signifying the commencement of the 190-day countdown to the kick-off of the event. The opening match of the competition will be played on 13 January, 2023.
“AKWABA, a word derived from a local Ivorian language meaning welcome, encapsulates essential values that make it a powerful symbol of the competition: hospitality, friendship, generosity, and team spirit.
“The Mascot offers an authentic experience of Ivorian hospitality, connects with fans, players, and nations, and celebrates the spirit of teamwork by promoting cooperation, mutual respect, and fair play.
“As the official image of the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations in Côte d’Ivoire, representing the Ivorian identity and draws inspiration from the country’s iconic elephant, Akwaba is now the face of the competition.
“The Journey of Selecting ‘Akwaba’:
“Just over a year ago, an open and inclusive competition was organised to allow all talented individuals to express themselves and create the mascot for the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations Cote d’Ivoire 2023.
“The top three winners of the competition were: KOUADIO N’Guessan Raoul Frédéric (1st place), COULIBALY Kixa Pemanh Mamadou (2nd place), and BROU Blah (3rd place).”
Out of 24 countries expected to be on parade at the continent’s biennial competition, 14 have booked their places, of which Nigeria is among, alongside defending Champions Senegal and host Cote d’ivoire.
