Afcon 2023: TV coverage, fixtures, schedule, format, groups and kick-off times

The 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) is reaching the end of a group stage that has produced shock results and dramatic finales aplenty.

Yet hosts Ivory Coast are in danger of leaving their own party early, joining other continental heavyweights in falling by the wayside at a tournament that has seen thrills, spills and some unexpected twists.

Four-time winners Ghana and 2019 champions Algeria have already made shock early exits and the Elephants – who are staging the finals for the second time and finished third in their group – face a nervous wait to see if they will follow them.

Holders Senegal have eased through, but it has been a tournament for the underdogs with Equatorial Guinea and Cape Verde unexpectedly topping tough groups and several other minnows taking points off the established order.

The BBC is showing 10 games live in the UK during the finals, with BBC Three broadcasting the Group F clash between Zambia and Morocco on Wednesday (20:00 GMT), while the World Football at Afcon will publish round-up podcasts after every matchday.

But when are the other remaining group fixtures? What is the format of the tournament? Where are matches being played and when do they kick off?

BBC Sport Africa provides you with all the information on the 34th edition of Africa’s biggest sporting event.

What are the groups?

The 24 teams were split into six groups of four teams, with the top two teams in each group and the four best-ranked third-placed teams advancing to the last 16.

Four places in the knock-out stages are set to be decided on Wednesday, with Mali and Morocco already through before their final games.

Morocco, who became the first side from the continent to reach a World Cup semi-final in Qatar in 2022, are the highest African nation in the world rankings (13th) – but have not won a Nations Cup since 1976.

Ivory Coast could go through on three points, but need results in the final round of matches in Groups E and F to go their way.

Group A final standings: Equatorial Guinea (Q), Nigeria (Q), Ivory Coast, Guinea-Bissau.

Group B final standings: Cape Verde (Q), Egypt (Q), Ghana, Mozambique.

Group C final standings: Senegal (Q), Cameroon (Q), Guinea (Q), The Gambia.

Group D final standings: Angola (Q), Burkina Faso (Q), Mauritania (Q), Algeria.

Group E: Mali (Q), South Africa, Namibia, Tunisia.

Group F: Morocco (Q), DR Congo, Zambia, Tanzania.

Story by bbc sports