Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire – There were no surprises at the opening ceremony of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations – just a singing, dancing celebration of Cote d'Ivoire, Africa, humanity and football.
The show I
In the years that the review has been travelling the world for major sporting events, the opening and closing ceremonies have seemingly become as important as the ensuing gala.
The organisers of the London Olympics staged a cool one in 2012. It was a cheaper, quirkier take on the sound and vision spectacular that Zhang Yimou produced for the 2008 Beijing Olympics Games. Zhang couldn’t reel in Queen Elizabeth II nor the James Bond character. But he did have a couple of millennia of Chinese culture to draw on.
Fast-forward 15 years and the brains behind the extravaganza in Abidjan can be proud. Their welcome to the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations was a bright, colourful, vibrant and fun. It gave the home players something to emulate.
The show II
Touchy-feely coaching courses are clearly paying off in the modern game with the Cote d’Ivoire boss Jean-Louis Gasset more than happy to talk about the pressure on his team. And himself.
Old-school bullishness does emerge occasionally from a man who has been leading teams in France and Spain since 1985. “It’s the biggest challenge of my life,” the 70-year-old told a press conference on the eve of the match against Guinea Bissau. “But that’s why I took up the challenge.”
And the veteran was gushing duality as his players arrived at the Alassane Outtara stadium just before the Group A opener. “We’ve got to enjoy ourselves,” he told a smiling reporter. “We’ve got to help the young players calm down. They’ve got to realise it’s an honour to be in this situation of playing in a Cup of Nations at home. They have to master their emotions and then of course show their technical capabilities.”
We can’t wait for Cote d’Ivoire in a penalty shoot-out.
No show
Maybe the hosts will breeze through to ultimate glory without anything so prosaic as a penalty shoot-out. Maybe.
They saw off Guinea Bissau 2-0 with a goal in each half from Seko Fofana and Jean-Philippe Krasso. While the goals were well taken, Guinea Bissau gave the ball away in the prelude to each of the strikes. And when the Guinea Bissau players did get near the Ivorian goal, they gave the ball away there too or shot limply at the target.
Guinea Bissau have yet to win a game at the Cup of Nations. They have games against Equatorial Guinea and Nigeria to gain that first victory.
Dreams
On the subject of big ideas, it was heartwarmingly wonderful to see Yemi Alade performing at the opening ceremony.
The Nigerian Afrobeats star says a dream was fulfilled when she was asked to sing. "Since 2016 I have envisioned performing at the stadium for football ceremonies surrounded by hundreds of dancers and people," said the 34-year-old. "It is indeed an honour and a dream come true. It is just the beginning."
What's next? World Cup? Superbowl? Afcon closing ceremony?
Joy of pecs
No such lust for self-projection from the Magic System. The veteran Ivorian outfit gamefully clambered onto the stage constructed in the middle of the pitch to team up with the Alade industrial complex and Mohamed Ramadan to sing the 2023 Cup of Nations anthem Akwaba – which means welcome in the Baoule language in Cote d'Ivoire.
The Magic System were sobriety incarnate with trousers and tops, while Alade and Ramadan were in flamboyant garb. Ramadan's red number slipped off effortlessly to allow him to show off his well-carved pectorals and rigid six-pack. Honestly, the people are here to watch the football.
