The Confederation of African Football (Caf) has officially revealed the mascot for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations finals.
In collaboration with the Organizing Committee (Cocan) and the Government of Cote d’Ivoire, Caf launched the mascot named AKWABA, which translates to “welcome” in the local Ivorian language.
A statement on Caf’s official website confirmed: “The Organising Committee (Cocan) in collaboration with the Government of Cote d’Ivoire and Caf, unveiled the official Mascot of the Africa Cup of Nations Cote d’Ivoire 2023 in Abidjan on Friday,” adding: “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 January 13, 2023.”
The statement added: “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.”
So far 14 countries have already qualified for the tournament including Nigeria and Guinea-Bissau from Group A, Cape Verde Islands from Group B, Mali from Group G, Ivory Coast, holders Senegal, Algeria, Burkina Faso, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Morocco, South Africa, Tunisia, and Zambia.