The Africa Cup Of Nations

The Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) is one of the most prestigious football tournaments in the world, showcasing the talent and passion for the sport on the African continent. In this blog, we will take a journey through the history of AFCON, highlighting its evolution, key moments, and showcase a list of past winners.

The Inception of AFCON

AFCON was first held in 1957, making it one of the oldest continental football competitions. It was conceived by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) with the goal of promoting unity and camaraderie among African nations through the sport of football. The tournament was originally known as the “African Cup of Nations,” but it later adopted the name “Africa Cup of Nations.”

Early Years (1957-1960s)

The inaugural AFCON took place in Sudan in 1957, featuring just three teams: Egypt, Sudan, and Ethiopia. Egypt emerged as the first champions, setting the stage for future editions of the tournament. In the early years, AFCON had a small number of participating teams and was held irregularly. The tournament expanded to include more nations as African football grew in popularity.

1960s & 1970s: Expansion and Dominance

This period marked a significant turning point for AFCON. The tournament expanded to include more teams, and the format was adjusted to accommodate the growing interest in African football. The 1968 edition in Ethiopia saw the introduction of group stages, paving the way for knockout rounds. During this era, teams like Ethiopia, Sudan, and and Morocco won titles but it was Ghana and the now Democratic Republic of Congo that asserted their dominance during this period, winning the tournament three times a piece.

1980s: Super Eagles Vs The Indomitable Lions

The 80’s saw Cameroonian Lions dominate the decade with two titles but they we’re pushed hard by the Super Eagles of Nigeria also emerged as a strong contender during this period, clinching their first AFCON title in 1980. The inaugural champions Egypt also returned to the winners podium after beating Cameroon in the 1986 final on penalties.

1990s: Host Nation Rules

First time hosts Algeria lifted their first title back in 1990. The 90s also brought South Africa into the AFCON fold, following the end of apartheid and in 1996, South Africa hosted and won the tournament in their very first appearance, marking a historic moment in the tournament’s history. This decade also saw a first win for the Ivory Coast in 1992 plus further trophies for Egypt and Nigeria.

2000s: The Reign of Cameroon and Egypt

The noughties saw Cameroon and Egypt dominate AFCON. Cameroon won back-to-back titles in 2000 and 2002, whilst Egypt secured three consecutive titles between 2006 -2010. Only host nation Tunisia bucked the dominance in 2004 when they lifted the trophy for the first time.

2010s: Diverse Champions

The 2010s onwards were characterised by the diversity of AFCON champions with six different winners including nations like Zambia and Senegal claiming first titles during this period. Zambia’s victory in 2012 was particularly touching, as it came on the 19th anniversary of a tragic plane crash that claimed the lives of the Zambian national team.

Table of Past AFCON Winners:

Year	Host Country	Winner
1957	Sudan	Egypt
1959	United Arab Republic	United Arab Republic (Now Egypt)
1962	Ethiopia	Ethiopia
1963	Ghana	Ghana
1965	Tunisia	Ghana
1968	Ethiopia	Congo-Kinshasa (Now DR Congo)
1970	Sudan	Sudan
1972	Cameroon	Congo-Kinshasa (Now DR Congo)
1974	Egypt	Zaire (Now DR Congo)
1976	Ethiopia	Morocco
1978	Ghana	Ghana
1980	Nigeria	Nigeria
1982	Libya	Ghana
1984	Ivory Coast	Cameroon
1986	Egypt	Egypt
1988	Morocco	Cameroon
1990	Algeria	Algeria
1992	Senegal	Ivory Coast
1994	Tunisia	Nigeria
1996	South Africa	South Africa
1998	Burkina Faso	Egypt
2000	Ghana/Nigeria	Cameroon
2002	Mali	Cameroon
2004	Tunisia	Tunisia
2006	Egypt	Egypt
2008	Ghana	Egypt
2010	Angola	Egypt
2012	Gabon/Equatorial Guinea	Zambia
2013	South Africa	Nigeria
2015	Equatorial Guinea	Ivory Coast
2017	Gabon	Cameroon
2019	Egypt	Algeria
2021	Cameroon	Senegal
2023	Ivory Coast	TBC

In terms of records the player with the most goals in the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) is former Barcelona, Inter Milan and Chelsea striker Samuel Eto’o from Cameroon. He scored a total of 18 goals in the tournament during his career.

In terms of the player with the most appearances in AFCON history, this record is held by Hossam Hassan from Egypt, who has appeared in the tournament in 35 matches.