Africa Cup of Nations

Africa Cup of Nations (Coupe d'Afrique des Nations)

The Africa Cup of Nations (Coupe d'Afrique des Nations) is the premier international football competition in Africa. Sanctioned by the Confederation of African Football (CAF), it crowns the undisputed champions of the continent.

History of Afcon

AFCON's roots go back to June 1957, when the tournament was founded during FIFA's first Congress in Lisbon, Portugal.

The inaugural tournament took place in Khartoum, Sudan, featuring just three participating nations: Egypt, Sudan, and Ethiopia (South Africa was disqualified due to its apartheid policies after naming an all-white squad).

Egypt won that first edition, setting the stage for what would become a grand continental tradition.

Early Evolution: In its early decades, the tournament was held irregularly. It expanded gradually through the 1960s and 1970s as more African nations gained independence and joined CAF.
The Modern Era: By the late 20th and early 21st centuries, the tournament evolved into a massive commercial and sporting spectacle, expanding to 16 teams in 1996 and further to 24 teams starting in 2019.
Scheduling Shifts: Traditionally played in January and February (mid-season for European clubs, which often sparked club-versus-country disputes), CAF shifted the tournament to June and July for the 2019 edition, though subsequent editions have occasionally shifted to adapt to regional weather patterns (such as wet seasons).

Prior to the 2025 tournament, Egypt have won the competition 7 times followed by Cameroon with 5 titles, Ghana 4 titles and Nigeria with 3 titles. Ivory Coast has 3 titles and DR Congo 2 titles.

The Africa Cup of Nations is held every 2 years with presently 24 teams in six groups of four teams competing. The tournament increased from 16 teams in 2019.

The African champions at the time of a Confederations Cup (in the year before a World Cup) qualify for that competition.

Tournament Winners & Most Successful Teams

Fifteen different countries have won the AFCON trophy since its inception. However, a few powerhouses have historically dominated the competition:

Team	Titles	Winning Years
Egypt	7	1957, 1959, 1986, 1998, 2006, 2008, 2010
Cameroon	5	1984, 1988, 2000, 2002, 2017
Ghana	4	1963, 1965, 1978, 1982
Nigeria	3	1980, 1994, 2013
Ivory Coast	3	1992, 2015, 2023
Algeria	2	1990, 2019
Morocco	2	1976, 2025
DR Congo	2	1968, 1974

Other past champions include Senegal, Zambia, Tunisia, Sudan, South Africa, Ethiopia, and Congo.

The Greatest Teams in AFCON History

Egypt (The Pharaohs): Undisputed kings of the continent with 7 titles. Their peak came during an unprecedented golden era under coach Hassan Shehata, where they won three consecutive titles in 2006, 2008, and 2010. They also hold records for the longest unbeaten streak (25 matches) and most overall match wins.
Cameroon (The Indomitable Lions): Famous for physical dominance and mental resilience, Cameroon ruled the 1980s and went back-to-back at the turn of the millennium (2000 and 2002), driven by elite generations of global superstars.
Ghana (The Black Stars): Early pioneers of African football who dominated the 1960s and 70s. Though they have endured a long drought since their last title in 1982, they remain historically tied for the most final appearances alongside Egypt.

Legendary Players

AFCON has served as the ultimate stage for many world-class legends:

Samuel Eto'o (Cameroon): The ultimate AFCON talisman. Eto'o is the tournament's all-time leading goalscorer with 18 goals across six tournaments, winning two titles and multiple Golden Boots.
Ahmed Hassan & Essam El-Hadary (Egypt): The ultimate serial winners. Both legendary Egyptian figures won four AFCON titles (1998, 2006, 2008, 2010). El-Hadary anchored the defense as a world-class goalkeeper well into his 40s.
Laurent Pokou (Ivory Coast): An iconic striker from the 1970s who scored 14 AFCON goals. He famously scored five goals in a single match against Ethiopia in 1970 - a legendary tournament record that still stands.
Roger Milla (Cameroon): An international icon whose flair, longevity, and goals made him a household name globally long before his famous World Cup heroics.
Rashidi Yekini (Nigeria): "The Goals Father" fired Nigeria to glory in 1994, racking up 13 tournament goals with his lethal left foot.
Modern Greats: Icons like Didier Drogba (Ivory Coast), Sadio Mané (Senegal), and Mohamed Salah (Egypt) have continued the tradition, thrilling global audiences and adding modern chapters to the competition's rich history.