AFCON Hosting Countries History: A Complete Guide
Introduction
The African Cup of Nations (AFCON) is the premier international football tournament in Africa, featuring the continent’s top national teams. Since its inception in 1957, the tournament has been hosted by various countries across Africa. In this article, we will take a comprehensive look at the history of AFCON hosting countries.
Early Years (1957-1970)
The first AFCON tournament was held in Sudan in 1957, with Egypt emerging as the inaugural champions. The early years of the tournament saw Egypt host the competition twice, followed by Ethiopia in 1962 and Ghana in 1963.
- 1957: Sudan
1959: Egypt
- 1962: Ethiopia
- 1963: Ghana
- 1965: Tunisia
- 1968: Ethiopia
- 1970: Sudan
Expansion and Growth (1972-1990)
As the tournament grew in popularity, more countries began to host the AFCON. Nigeria hosted the tournament in 1980, while Morocco and Libya hosted the competition in 1988 and 1982, respectively. This period also saw the introduction of new teams, including Cameroon, which won the tournament in 1972 and 1984.
- 1972: Cameroon
- 1974: Egypt
- 1976: Ghana
- 1978: Ghana
- 1980: Nigeria
- 1982: Libya
- 1984: Cameroon
- 1986: Egypt
- 1988: Morocco
- 1990: Algeria
Modern Era (1992-2019)
The 1990s saw a significant increase in the number of teams participating in the AFCON. The tournament was expanded to 16 teams in 1992, and new countries began to host the competition. South Africa hosted the tournament in 1996, while Tunisia and Mali hosted the competition in 2004 and 2002, respectively.
- 1992: Senegal
- 1994: Tunisia
- 1996: South Africa
- 1998: Burkina Faso
- 2000: Ghana and Nigeria
- 2002: Mali
- 2004: Tunisia
- 2006: Egypt
- 2008: Ghana
- 2010: Angola
- 2012: Gabon and Equatorial Guinea
- 2013: South Africa
- 2015: Equatorial Guinea
- 2017: Gabon
- 2019: Egypt
Conclusion
The AFCON has come a long way since its inception in 1957. From its early years in Sudan and Egypt to the modern era, the tournament has grown in popularity and expanded to include more teams and countries. We hope this comprehensive guide has provided a valuable insight into the history of AFCON hosting countries.
