Categories: Sports

Official: Cote d’Ivoire spent over $1bn to organise AFCON 2023

The Ambassador of Cote d’Ivoire to Nigeria, Kalilou Traore, says the country spent more than $1 billion to organise the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).

Traore made this known during an interview on the sideline of the official unveiling ceremony of the ‘AFCON Village’ in Abuja on Saturday night.

He said the AFCON village was set up in partnership with Continental Hotel.

He said the facility will transmit live matches till the end of the tournament, which kicked off in Cote d’Ivoire with 24 countries seeking the continent’s most coveted football trophy on February 11, 2024.

Traore said: “The government of Cote d’Ivoire has spent more than $1 billion to organise it. Most of the investment was designed to solve logistics issues like transportation, hotels, security, and many others.

“Right now, I was in touch with many people in Abidjan and they were saying that life is so good now in Abidjan.

READ ALSO: Cote d’Ivoire beat Guinea-Bissau in AFCON 2023 opener

“So things are going very well and we pray to God that it will continue like this till the end of AFCON.

“Football tournament is an occasion for people to meet and when we meet we can talk about everything, particularly how to let things move forward.

“When we meet, when we discuss all issues, we can solve lots of problems, so the power of football is to gather people and when they are together, we can solve problems.”

The envoy described Cote d’Ivoire as a country of hospitality and peace since its first president, Felix Houphouet-Boigny’s philosophy of peace, dialogue, and prosperity for people.

Traore reiterated that the country has continued to leave no stone unturned to do its best to unite Africa.

He added: “In Cote d’Ivoire right now, President Alassane Ouattara’s government has all Ivorians mobilised to make this AFCON the best ever organised since the past.

“We as the Ivorian mission in Nigeria will implement this directive, to unite people, to make this occasion one of fraternity and friendship.

“This is why we have organised here in Abuja the AFCON village with our partner, Continental Hotel. Throughout the tournament, we will be here with all our friends.

“To view all the matches and support all the teams; I wish that the best team wins this cup.”

The Star

Segun Ojo

Recent Posts

Wike pays hospital bills of Abuja accident victims

The Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has sympathised with victims of the…

7 hours ago

Mr Macaroni: How I was defrauded, slipped into N500m debt

Popular content creator and actor, Adebowale Adedayo, fondly called Mr Macaroni, has disclosed that he…

8 hours ago

‘Crisis was at perilous point’: Tinubu lauds NASS for approving Rivers emergency rule

President Bola Tinubu has commended the National Assembly for ratifying the etate of emergency proclamation…

9 hours ago

Senate approves emergency rule in Rivers

The Senate has approved the request of President Bola Tinubu for the declaration of a…

13 hours ago

Commissioner: Uba Sani initiated 78 roads, commissioned 21 in Kaduna

The Kaduna State Commissioner of Public Works and Infrastructure, Ibrahim Hamza, says Governor Uba Sani…

13 hours ago

Senate goes into closed session to discuss Rivers emergency rule

The Senate has gone into a closed session to discuss President Bola Tinubu’s declaration of…

14 hours ago