As the 35th edition of the Africa Cup of Nations kicks off in Morocco, the tournament's remarkable journey since its inception in 1957 deserves renewed attention. From the sweltering heat of Khartoum to the dazzling modern arenas of today, AFCON has evolved into a competition that commands deep respect across the global game.
The Birth of African Football's Premier Competition
The Africa Cup of Nations was first held in February 1957 in Khartoum, Sudan, where Egypt defeated the host nation in the final to win the Abdel Aziz Abdallah Salem Trophy, named after its donor, an Egyptian who was the first CAF president.
In the first tournament, only three nations participated: Sudan, Egypt, and Ethiopia. South Africa was originally scheduled to join but was disqualified due to the apartheid policies of the government then in power. Since then, the tournament has expanded greatly, now featuring 24 teams in the main draw.
Egypt: The Kings of African Football
Egypt stand unrivalled in AFCON history. The Pharaohs boast a record seven titles, lifted in 1957, 1959, 1986, 1998, 2006, 2008, and 2010. They are the only nation to have won three consecutive titles, dominating from 2006 to 2010.
Egypt also leads in final appearances (10), tournament appearances (26), matches played (111), match victories (60), and goals scored (175). Their longest unbeaten streak of 24 matches spanned from 2004 to 2017.
African Football's Elite Champions
Cameroon's Indomitable Lions have won five titles, making them the second most successful nation. Ghana's Black Stars have lifted the trophy four times (1963, 1965, 1978, 1982). Nigeria's Super Eagles and Ivory Coast have each won the competition three times.
Several other nations have etched their names into history: Algeria (1990, 2019), DR Congo/Zaire (1968, 1974), Tunisia (2004), South Africa (1996), Zambia (2012), and Senegal (2021).
Records and Legends
Cameroon legend Samuel Eto'o remains the competition's all-time top scorer with 18 goals. The record for most goals in a single tournament belongs to Ndaye Mulamba, who struck nine times for Zaire in 1974.
Rigobert Song, Ahmed Hassan, Andre Ayew, and Youssef Msakni share the record for most tournament appearances by a player, featuring in eight editions. Egypt's Essam El Hadary became the oldest player in AFCON history when he featured in the 2017 final at 44 years old.
On the touchline, Ghana's Charles Gyamfi and Egypt's Hassan Shehata are the most decorated coaches, each winning three titles. Hervé Renard carved a special place by winning with two different nations: Zambia in 2012 and Ivory Coast in 2015.
Evolution of the Tournament
The tournament has evolved significantly over the decades. Since 1968, it has been held every two years. The format expanded to 24 teams from 2019, and the dates were changed to June-July to align with the club football offseason.
The 2025 edition in Morocco marks the first time AFCON will be played over the Christmas and New Year period. Major changes are also coming: CAF announced that from 2028, the competition will become a quadrennial event, taking place every four years.
The Home Advantage
The African Cup of Nations host nation has gone on to lift the trophy 11 times, most recently Ivory Coast in 2023. Hosts or co-hosts have reached the knockout stages in 14 of the last 15 AFCON editions.
Morocco, hosting for the second time after 1988, will be hoping to add their name to this illustrious list as they seek a second continental crown and first since 1976.