ICSS continues to provide technical assistance, operational support for TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations Cote d'Ivoire 2023

As part of its mission to protect major sporting events in all their dimensions, the International Centre for Sport Security (ICSS) continues to work in close collaboration with the Confederation of African Football (CAF) for the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations Cote d'Ivoire 2023, the largest football tournament in Africa running from 13 January to 11 February 2024.

Following the provision of capacity building on safety and security for the Local Organising Committee (COCAN) since September 2023, the ICSS has assisted in drafting key documentation for the tournament including a Stadium Stewards Handbook to support the operations of all deployed Stadium Stewards.

Moreover, upon request of CAF, the ICSS has deployed, since the beginning of the tournament, a team of Access Control Experts to monitor and support access control operations through assurance, mentorship, and real-time guidance.

The team has been travelling across Ivory Coast to the different host city stadiums attending matches throughout the tournament from the group stages to the finals. Their findings are being documented which will leave a legacy for CAF and future host nations of the tournament.

Founder and Chairman of the ICSS, Mohammed Al Hanzab said: "We feel honored for having been chosen by CAF to contribute to the safety and security of the largest major sporting events happening in Africa.

We are making available all our capacities to supporting CAF's efforts to host a safe and secure edition of the tournament, through which we are keen to bring together best practices and lessons learnt through our involvement in many major sporting events over the past years, most notably the historic FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022."

For his part, Head of Sport Event Security of the ICSS Steven Fleming, said: "It is a great honour and privilege for the ICSS to be involved in this most prestigious football tournament on the African continent. I would like to thank the CAF Safety and Security Department led by Dr Christian Emeruwa for their assistance and support throughout our time here in Côte D'Ivoire. By the time the Tournament comes to an end on February 11th, we will have travelled to all host city stadiums and assisted the CAF Safety and Security Officers with the operational deliveries. We are primarily here to see firsthand the access control operations and advise where, from our previous experiences, we feel operations may be enhanced. It has been a great experience for us all, working with great inter-agency teams in beautiful stadia. We look forward to the remainder of the tournament and to continuing our relationship with CAF in future events." (QNA)