In a move set to redefine the media landscape of the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations, Côte d'Ivoire 2023, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and the Local Organising Committee (COCAN) are introducing the Main Media Centre (MMC) concept in Abidjan.
This marks a historic milestone in the tournament's 67-year history, as the MMC becomes the primary 'nerve' center for media services during the continental extravaganza.
Strategically positioned at the Palais de la Culture de Treichville in Abidjan, the MMC is not just a physical space; it's a visionary step towards enhancing the media experience. Set to officially open its doors on Wednesday, 10 January 2024, a full three days ahead of the tournament's kick-off, the MMC is poised to become the heartbeat of media coverage during the Afcon.
Unlike anything seen before, the MMC is tailored to cater to the unique needs of journalists, photographers, and broadcasters, providing them with an unparalleled working environment. This pioneering concept is a testament to CAF and COCAN's commitment to elevating the media coverage surrounding the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations.
All pre-match press conferences (Match day -1) for both matches in Alassane Ouattara (Ebimpe) and Felix Houphouet-Boigny Stadium will be held at the Main Media Centre.
This will include all non-match day media events and press conferences. Media in Abidjan will also be able to follow press conferences from other venues at the Main Media Centre daily.
This is yet another way of CAF and COCAN to make work easy for more than 3 000 media that have been accredited for the competition. The Main Media Centre can accommodate over 500 media and has as press conference facility.
CAF General Secretary, Veron Mosengo-Omba said: “Media plays an important role in making the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations a success. It is important for CAF to introduce the best possible conditions for media to do it’s work. The Main Media Centre will centralize media events and services. This means media do not need to travel between the two venues for pre-match media conferences.”
Operational Hours: 10h00 – 23h30 Daily
Key Features of the MMC:
Centralized Approach: The MMC represents a centralized approach to media coverage, bringing together journalists, broadcasters, and photographers in one dedicated space.
Photographers Section: A dedicated area with two rows exclusively for photographers, recognizing the crucial role of visual storytelling in sports journalism.
Agencies Space: An exclusive space designated for media agencies.
Media Café: A dedicated catering area for media professionals to ensure a comfortable working environment.
Press Conferences: All Matchday-1 press conferences for teams, as well as other CAF press conferences and media briefings, will take place at the MMC.
Broadcast Hub: MMC serves as the central hub for broadcasting, with live feeds from all matches delivered to the facility. Even non-approved media for Match Telecasts can watch matches at MMC.