Ivory Coast is getting ready to host the biggest sporting event in Africa, the 2024 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon). The tournament will feature 24 teams, and Ivory Coast will be hosting the finals for the second time.

The event is set to kick off on Saturday, January 13, with Ivory Coast facing Guinea-Bissau at the Alassane Ouattara Stadium in Abidjan. Egypt, a seven-time champion, will also be in action on the opening weekend against Mozambique in Group B, while Senegal, the defending champions, will begin their title defense against The Gambia in Group C on Monday, January 15.

Here’s a breakdown of the groups:

• Group A: Ivory Coast, Nigeria, Equatorial Guinea, Guinea-Bissau.
• Group B: Egypt, Ghana, Cape Verde, Mozambique.
• Group C: Senegal, Cameroon, Guinea, The Gambia.
• Group D: Algeria, Burkina Faso, Mauritania, Angola.
• Group E: Tunisia, Mali, South Africa, Namibia.
• Group F: Morocco, DR Congo, Zambia, Tanzania.

The tournament schedule and kick-off times include at least two games each day during the group stage, running until January 24. Matches will take place at 14:00, 17:00, and 20:00 (all times GMT) during the group stages. The knockout stages will begin on Saturday, January 27.

Six stadiums in five host cities across Ivory Coast will host the matches:

• Alassane Ouattara Stadium, Abidjan (capacity 60,000)
• Felix Houphouet-Boigny Stadium, Abidjan (capacity 33,000)
• Charles Konan Banny Stadium, Yamoussoukro (capacity 20,000)
• Stade de la Paix, Bouake (capacity 40,000)
• Amadou Gon Coulibaly Stadium, Korhogo (capacity 20,000)
• Laurent Pokou Stadium, San Pedro (capacity 20,000)

Senegal is considered a favorite to win, with star players like Sadio Mane, Kalidou Koulibaly, and Edouard Mendy. Algeria, the 2019 champions, and Morocco are also seen as strong contenders. Egypt, with Mohamed Salah, is another notable team. The tournament will run until the final on February 11 at the Alassane Ouattara Stadium in Abidjan.