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Glory Photozine: Coupe D’Afrique

Akwaba Côte d'Ivoire!

The Twi word selected as the slogan for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations translates as welcome and the Ivory Coast embodied the spirit of akwaba as it welcomed Africa to the continent’s biggest party.

Côte d'Ivoire was the perhaps the perfect location to host the AFCON. Not only is it the economic heart of francophone Africa and so already has millions of migrants from all over West Africa living there but it was also a country desperate to celebrate and move on from the scars of a civil war that only ended in 2011.

Expectations were high on the pitch as well as off it, following on from a historic World Cup for African nations, capped off by Morocco’s scintillating run to the semi-finals.

Holders Senegal were coming into the tournament looking stronger than ever, Algeria were looking like the same team that won the 2019 tournament, serial AFCON winners Egypt were hitting form at the right time and Mo Salah was on a path of destiny akin to Messi to win his elusive AFCON.

The 2023 AFCON promised to be one of the greatest AFCONs ever. It’s safe to say it exceeded expectations, and was beautifully captured by friend and regular contributor to Glory, Brecht de Vleeschauwer.