Guinea’s selection as host of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) came as a major surprise—even to the Guinean delegation itself.
📍 What Happened:
During the CAF executive meeting in Addis Ababa, expectations were limited to naming hosts for the 2019 and 2021 tournaments. However, in an unexpected move, CAF also awarded the 2023 edition, naming Guinea as host.
🗣️ Reaction:
Guinean Minister Oye Guilavogui, who presented the bid, told RFI:
“We were surprised… With the Ebola outbreak weakening our economy, it’s a challenge. But we’re happy, and we promise CAF that we’ll be ready.”
🏗️ Challenges Ahead:
Ebola epidemic has severely impacted Guinea’s economy.
The country has limited infrastructure, needing major investment in stadiums, roads, and accommodations.
However, the timeline to 2023 gives Guinea a reasonable window to prepare.
🌍 Why Guinea?
Never hosted AFCON before—a strong point under CAF’s push for fairer distribution.
A grassroots campaign titled “Guinea 2019-2021: The Syli at the Heart of Africa” attracted strong public support via social media.
✅ Summary:
Guinea now faces a massive opportunity—and challenge—to use AFCON 2023 as a springboard for both sporting development and national infrastructure recovery, all while navigating the lasting impact of the Ebola crisis.
