Africa Cup of Nations Past Winners & Records

The Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) is the premier international football tournament in Africa, organized by the Confederation of African Football (CAF). Since its inaugural edition in 1957, the tournament has showcased the continent’s footballing talent and fierce national rivalries. Over the decades, legendary teams and players have written history in this prestigious competition. In this article, we take a closer look at the past winners of AFCON, country-wise title counts, and key tournament records — from the most successful nations to iconic final matches.

The Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) is the premier football competition in Africa, held since 1957. Here is a summary of the most successful nations and a recent list of winners:

All-Time Most Successful Nations

Recent Champions

• Egypt is the most successful nation with 7 titles.
• Ivory Coast are the reigning champions as of 2023.

🔥 Top Matches in Africa Cup of Nations History

1. Egypt vs Cameroon – Final, 2008 (1-0)

• Venue: Accra, Ghana
• Significance: Egypt clinched their record 6th title. Mohamed Aboutrika scored the winner in a tense final, completing Egypt’s back-to-back wins.

2. Nigeria vs Cameroon – Final, 2000 (2-2, 3-4 pens)

• Venue: Lagos, Nigeria
• Significance: A classic final that went to penalties. Cameroon held their nerve in Nigeria’s backyard to win their third title.

3. Ivory Coast vs Ghana – Final, 1992 (0-0, 11-10 pens)

• Venue: Dakar, Senegal
• Significance: The longest penalty shootout in AFCON history. Ivory Coast won their first title in dramatic fashion.

4. Senegal vs Egypt – Final, 2021 (0-0, 4-2 pens)

• Venue: Yaoundé, Cameroon
• Significance: Senegal won their first-ever AFCON title after a thrilling final. Sadio Mané scored the winning penalty after missing one in normal time.

5. Egypt vs Algeria – Semi-final, 2010 (4-0)

• Venue: Benguela, Angola
• Significance: A fiery North African derby that turned into a dominant Egyptian display en route to their third consecutive title.

6. South Africa vs Tunisia – Final, 1996 (2-0)

• Venue: Johannesburg, South Africa
• Significance: South Africa lifted their first AFCON title as hosts just a few years after returning from international isolation.

7. Cameroon vs Nigeria – Final, 1988 (1-0)

• Venue: Casablanca, Morocco
• Significance: A tight match won by Emmanuel Kundé’s penalty, securing Cameroon’s second title.

8. Ghana vs Libya – Final, 1982 (1-1, 7-6 pens)

• Venue: Tripoli, Libya
• Significance: Ghana claimed their fourth title in hostile territory via a nerve-racking shootout.

🏆 Africa Cup of Nations – Key Records & Stats

🥇 Most Titles

• Egypt – 7 titles (1957, 1959, 1986, 1998, 2006, 2008, 2010)

🏅 Most Final Appearances

• Egypt – 10 finals

🥈 Most Runner-Up Finishes

• Ghana – 5 times (1968, 1970, 1992, 2010, 2015)

📊 Team Records

• Most Consecutive Titles:
  🔹 Egypt – 3 (2006, 2008, 2010)
• Most Consecutive Final Appearances:
  🔹 Egypt – 3 (2006, 2008, 2010)
• Most Appearances in AFCON:
  🔹 Egypt – 26 times (as of 2023)
• Most Matches Played in AFCON:
  🔹 Egypt – 109+ matches
• Most Wins in AFCON History:
  🔹 Egypt – Over 65 wins

👤 Individual Records

• Top Scorer in a Single Tournament:
  🔹 Pierre Ndaye Mulamba (Zaire) – 9 goals (1974)
• All-Time Top Scorers in AFCON:
  1. Samuel Eto’o (Cameroon) – 18 goals
  2. Laurent Pokou (Ivory Coast) – 14 goals
  3. Rashidi Yekini (Nigeria) – 13 goals
• Most Titles by a Player:
  🔹 Ahmed Hassan (Egypt) – 4 titles (1998, 2006, 2008, 2010)
  🔹 Essam El-Hadary (Egypt) – 4 titles (same years)
• Youngest Goalscorer:
  🔹 Fabrice Olinga (Cameroon) – 16 years
• Oldest Player to Appear:
  🔹 Essam El-Hadary (Egypt) – 44 years (2017)

⚽ Other Notable Records

• Biggest Win in AFCON History:
  🔹 Ivory Coast 6–1 Ethiopia (1970)
• Most Goals in a Single Tournament:
  🔹 Egypt 1984 – 38 goals total (entire tournament)
• Longest Penalty Shootout:
  🔹 Ivory Coast vs Ghana (1992 Final) – 11–10 in penalties

❓ Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)