The History of Africa Cup of Nations
The Africa Cup of Nations, also known as AFCON, is the main international football tournament for national teams in Africa. The tournament is organized by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and is held every two years. The first Africa Cup of Nations was held in 1957 in Sudan, and it has since become one of the most prestigious football tournaments in the world.
Early Years (1957-1970)
The first Africa Cup of Nations was won by Egypt, who defeated Ethiopia 4-0 in the final. The tournament was initially held every two years, but it was later changed to a four-year cycle. In the early years, the tournament was dominated by Egypt, who won the title five times in the first seven editions.
1957: Egypt wins the first Africa Cup of Nations, defeating Ethiopia 4-0 in the final.
- 1959: Egypt wins the second Africa Cup of Nations, defeating Sudan 4-0 in the final.
- 1962: Ethiopia wins the third Africa Cup of Nations, defeating Egypt 4-2 in the final.
- 1963: Ghana wins the fourth Africa Cup of Nations, defeating Sudan 3-0 in the final.
- 1965: Ghana wins the fifth Africa Cup of Nations, defeating Tunisia 3-2 in the final.
- 1968: Ghana wins the sixth Africa Cup of Nations, defeating Egypt 1-0 in the final.
- 1970: Sudan wins the seventh Africa Cup of Nations, defeating Ghana 3-0 in the final.
Expansion and Growth (1972-1990)
In the 1970s and 1980s, the Africa Cup of Nations expanded to include more teams and countries. The tournament was held every two years, and the number of participating teams increased from 8 to 16. In this period, teams from West Africa, such as Ghana and Nigeria, began to dominate the tournament.
- 1972: Congo-Brazzaville wins the eighth Africa Cup of Nations, defeating Mali 3-2 in the final.
- 1974: Zaire wins the ninth Africa Cup of Nations, defeating Zanzibar 3-2 in the final.
- 1976: Morocco wins the tenth Africa Cup of Nations, defeating Guinea 1-1 (3-2 in penalties) in the final.
- 1978: Ghana wins the eleventh Africa Cup of Nations, defeating Uganda 2-0 in the final.
- 1980: Nigeria wins the twelfth Africa Cup of Nations, defeating Algeria 3-0 in the final.
- 1982: Ghana wins the thirteenth Africa Cup of Nations, defeating Libya 1-1 (7-6 in penalties) in the final.
- 1984: Cameroon wins the fourteenth Africa Cup of Nations, defeating Nigeria 3-1 in the final.
- 1986: Egypt wins the fifteenth Africa Cup of Nations, defeating Ivory Coast 5-4 in penalties after a 0-0 draw.
- 1988: Cameroon wins the sixteenth Africa Cup of Nations, defeating Nigeria 1-0 in the final.
- 1990: Algeria wins the seventeenth Africa Cup of Nations, defeating Nigeria 1-0 in the final.
Modern Era (1992-Present)
In the 1990s and 2000s, the Africa Cup of Nations continued to grow and expand. The tournament was held every two years, and the number of participating teams increased to 16. In this period, teams from North Africa, such as Egypt and Morocco, began to dominate the tournament.
- 1992: Ivory Coast wins the eighteenth Africa Cup of Nations, defeating Ghana 9-3 in penalties after a 0-0 draw.
- 1994: Nigeria wins the nineteenth Africa Cup of Nations, defeating Zambia 2-1 in the final.
- 1996: South Africa wins the twentieth Africa Cup of Nations, defeating Tunisia 2-0 in the final.
- 1998: Egypt wins the twenty-first Africa Cup of Nations, defeating South Africa 2-0 in the final.
- 2000: Cameroon wins the twenty-second Africa Cup of Nations, defeating Nigeria 4-3 in penalties after a 3-3 draw.
- 2002: Cameroon wins the twenty-third Africa Cup of Nations, defeating Senegal 3-0 in the final.
- 2004: Tunisia wins the twenty-fourth Africa Cup of Nations, defeating Morocco 2-1 in the final.
- 2006: Egypt wins the twenty-fifth Africa Cup of Nations, defeating Ivory Coast 4-2 in penalties after a 0-0 draw.
- 2008: Egypt wins the twenty-sixth Africa Cup of Nations, defeating Cameroon 1-0 in the final.
- 2010: Egypt wins the twenty-seventh Africa Cup of Nations, defeating Ghana 1-0 in the final.
- 2012: Zambia wins the twenty-eighth Africa Cup of Nations, defeating Côte d’Ivoire 8-7 in penalties after a 0-0 draw.
- 2013: Nigeria wins the twenty-ninth Africa Cup of Nations, defeating Burkina Faso 1-0 in the final.
- 2015: Ivory Coast wins the thirtieth Africa Cup of Nations, defeating Ghana 9-8 in penalties after a 0-0 draw.
- 2017: Cameroon wins the thirty-first Africa Cup of Nations, defeating Egypt 2-1 in the final.
- 2019: Algeria wins the thirty-second Africa Cup of Nations, defeating Senegal 1-0 in the final.
- 2021: Senegal wins the thirty-third Africa Cup of Nations, defeating Egypt 4-2 in penalties after a 0-0 draw.
The Africa Cup of Nations has a rich history, and it continues to grow and expand to this day. The tournament has been won by 19 different teams, and it has been held in 18 different countries.
