STORY: Festive fever grips Abidjan as Africa Cup of Nations kicks off
SHOOTING TIME: Jan. 12, 2024
DATELINE: Jan. 13, 2024
LENGTH: 00:03:32
LOCATION: ABIDJAN, Cote d'Ivoire
CATEGORY: SPORTS

SHOTLIST:
1. various of Abidjan
2. various of exciting citizens
3. SOUNDBITE 1 (French): SEVEREIN KOUASSI, Resident
4. SOUNDBITE 2 (French): YANN KOUADIO MIEZAN, Resident
5. SOUNDBITE 3 (French): SERGES KOUADI, Resident
6. SOUNDBITE 4 (French): SARAN KAMAGATE, Resident

STORYLINE:

The 34th Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) kicks off in Abidjan, the economic capital of Cote d'Ivoire on Saturday.

The streets, community playgrounds, and shopping malls are abuzz with excitement, brimming with AFCON elements.

High spirits reign as people eagerly await this African sporting feast.

SOUNDBITE 1 (French): SEVEREIN KOUASSI, Resident
"We come here to buy support items for the AFCON, because it is about to start! Friends from all countries are welcome to the AFCON. Abidjan welcomes you! We are waiting for you here! Come and have fun with us!"

SOUNDBITE 2 (French): YANN KOUADIO MIEZAN, Resident
"I want to be a professional player like Ronaldo. I hope to play for Real Madrid Football Club in the future."

SOUNDBITE 3 (French): SERGES KOUADI, Resident
"This is a perfect game, and the final winner is the entire Africa. We warmly welcome all African brothers to come and enjoy the AFCON with us! But football is a sports competition, and I am a person of Cote d'Ivoire, so I support Team Elephants of Cote d'Ivoire. We have already won the AFCON twice, and it would be good to win it again."

SOUNDBITE 4 (French): SARAN KAMAGATE, Resident
"This is genuine. The T-shirt here is definitely genuine. People from many countries will come to Cote d'Ivoire to participate in the AFCON. It makes me so happy to experience such moments! We hope it will come soon! Come on, Team Elephants!"

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire.
(XHTV)