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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Sport
Osasu Obayiuwana in Abidjan

‘It is a global event’: all eyes on hosts Ivory Coast as Afcon looks to move on

Ivory Coast and Morocco fans in Abidjan, Ivory Coast
Ivory Coast is hosting the Afcon for the first time in 40 years. Photograph: Luc Gnago/Reuters

Ivory Coast is about to stage its second Africa Cup of Nations but, with the first happening 40 years ago, not many of the country’s more than 29 million people have experienced the tournament. Michel Brizoua-Bi, a lawyer and former senior figure in the Confederation of African Football (Caf), is among the exceptions.

Brizoua-Bi was 18 when, in March 1984, he and a 50,000 crowd at the Félix-Houphouët-Boigny Stadium in Abidjan, witnessed the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon, captained by Théophile Abega and inspired by Roger Milla, win the first of their five Afcon titles, beating Nigeria (known as the Green Eagles at the time) 3-1 in the final.

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