AFCON hosting countries history complete guide

AFCON Hosting Countries History: A Complete Guide

The Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) is one of the most prestigious international football tournaments in Africa, with a rich history dating back to 1957. Over the years, the tournament has been hosted by various countries across the continent, each leaving its mark on the beautiful game.

Early Years (1957-1970)

• 1957: The first edition of the AFCON was hosted by Sudan, with Egypt emerging as the first champions.

• 1959: The second edition was held in Egypt, where the hosts repeated their victory.
• 1962: Ghana hosted the third edition, with Ethiopia emerging as the new champions.
• 1963: The fourth edition was held in Ghana, where the hosts won their second title.
• 1965: Tunisia hosted the fifth edition, but the hosts were defeated by Ghana in the final.
• 1968: Ethiopia hosted the sixth edition, where Ghana won their third title.
• 1970: Sudan hosted the seventh edition, with Sudan emerging as the new champions.

Expansion and Growth (1972-1990)

• 1972: Egypt hosted the eighth edition, where the hosts won their third title.
• 1974: Zaire (now the Democratic Republic of Congo) hosted the ninth edition, but the hosts were defeated by Zaire in the final.
• 1976: Ethiopia hosted the tenth edition, where Morocco won their first title.
• 1978: Ghana hosted the eleventh edition, with Ghana winning their fourth title.
• 1980: Nigeria hosted the twelfth edition, but the hosts were defeated by Nigeria in the final.
• 1982: Libya hosted the thirteenth edition, where Ghana won their fifth title.
• 1984: Ivory Coast hosted the fourteenth edition, with Cameroon winning their first title.
• 1986: Egypt hosted the fifteenth edition, where Egypt won their fourth title.
• 1988: Morocco hosted the sixteenth edition, with Cameroon winning their second title.
• 1990: Algeria hosted the seventeenth edition, with Algeria winning their first title.

Modern Era (1992-2020)

• 1992: Ivory Coast hosted the eighteenth edition, with Ivory Coast winning their first title.
• 1994: Tunisia hosted the nineteenth edition, with Nigeria winning their first title.
• 1996: South Africa hosted the twentieth edition, with South Africa winning their first title.
• 1998: Burkina Faso hosted the twenty-first edition, with Egypt winning their fifth title.
• 2000: Ghana hosted the twenty-second edition, with Cameroon winning their third title.
• 2002: Mali hosted the twenty-third edition, with Cameroon winning their fourth title.
• 2004: Tunisia hosted the twenty-fourth edition, with Tunisia winning their first title.
• 2006: Egypt hosted the twenty-fifth edition, with Egypt winning their sixth title.
• 2008: Ghana hosted the twenty-sixth edition, with Egypt winning their seventh title.
• 2010: Angola hosted the twenty-seventh edition, with Egypt winning their eighth title.
• 2012: Equatorial Guinea and Gabon co-hosted the twenty-eighth edition, with Zambia winning their first title.
• 2013: South Africa hosted the twenty-ninth edition, with Nigeria winning their third title.
• 2015: Equatorial Guinea hosted the thirtieth edition, with Ivory Coast winning their second title.
• 2017: Gabon hosted the thirty-first edition, with Cameroon winning their fifth title.
• 2019: Egypt hosted the thirty-second edition, with Algeria winning their second title.
• 2020: Cameroon was scheduled to host the thirty-third edition, but the tournament was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The AFCON has come a long way since its inception in 1957, with various countries hosting the tournament over the years. From the early years in Sudan and Egypt to the modern era in South Africa and Egypt, the tournament has seen its fair share of triumphs and heartbreaks.