AFCON Hosting Countries History: A Complete Guide
Introduction
The African Cup of Nations (AFCON) is the premier international football tournament in Africa, featuring the top national teams from the continent. The tournament has a rich history, with the first edition held in 1957 in Khartoum, Sudan. Over the years, the AFCON has been hosted by various countries, each leaving their mark on the tournament’s history. In this article, we will take you on a journey through the AFCON hosting countries history, highlighting the key facts and achievements of each host nation.
Early Years (1957-1976)
- 1957: Sudan
– The first edition of the AFCON was held in Khartoum, Sudan, with Egypt emerging as the champions.
- 1962: Ethiopia
– The second edition was hosted by Ethiopia, with Ethiopia itself winning the tournament.
- 1963: Ghana – Ghana hosted the third edition, with Ghana winning the title.
- 1965: Tunisia – Tunisia hosted the fourth edition, with the Gold Coast (now Ghana) winning the tournament.
- 1968: Ethiopia – Ethiopia hosted the fifth edition, with the Soviet Union-backed team winning the tournament.
- 1970: Sudan – Sudan hosted the sixth edition, with Sudan itself winning the tournament.
- 1972: Congo-Brazzaville – Congo-Brazzaville hosted the seventh edition, with Congo-Brazzaville winning the tournament.
- 1974: Egypt – Egypt hosted the eighth edition, with Zaire (now the Democratic Republic of the Congo) winning the tournament.
- 1976: Ethiopia – Ethiopia hosted the ninth edition, with Morocco winning the tournament.
Middle Years (1980-2000)
- 1980: Nigeria – Nigeria hosted the tenth edition, with Nigeria winning the tournament.
- 1982: Libya – Libya hosted the eleventh edition, with Ghana winning the tournament.
- 1984: Ivory Coast – Ivory Coast hosted the twelfth edition, with Cameroon winning the tournament.
- 1986: Egypt – Egypt hosted the thirteenth edition, with Egypt winning the tournament.
- 1988: Morocco – Morocco hosted the fourteenth edition, with Cameroon winning the tournament.
- 1990: Algeria – Algeria hosted the fifteenth edition, with Algeria winning the tournament.
- 1992: Senegal – Senegal hosted the sixteenth edition, with Ivory Coast winning the tournament.
- 1994: Tunisia – Tunisia hosted the seventeenth edition, with Nigeria winning the tournament.
- 1996: South Africa – South Africa hosted the eighteenth edition, with South Africa winning the tournament.
- 1998: Burkina Faso – Burkina Faso hosted the nineteenth edition, with Egypt winning the tournament.
- 2000: Ghana-Nigeria – Ghana and Nigeria co-hosted the twentieth edition, with Cameroon winning the tournament.
Modern Era (2004-2022)
- 2004: Tunisia – Tunisia hosted the twenty-first edition, with Tunisia winning the tournament.
- 2006: Egypt – Egypt hosted the twenty-second edition, with Egypt winning the tournament.
- 2008: Ghana – Ghana hosted the twenty-third edition, with Egypt winning the tournament.
- 2010: Angola – Angola hosted the twenty-fourth edition, with Egypt winning the tournament.
- 2012: Gabon and Equatorial Guinea – Gabon and Equatorial Guinea co-hosted the twenty-fifth edition, with Zambia winning the tournament.
- 2013: South Africa – South Africa hosted the twenty-sixth edition, with Nigeria winning the tournament.
- 2015: Equatorial Guinea – Equatorial Guinea hosted the twenty-seventh edition, with Ivory Coast winning the tournament.
- 2017: Gabon – Gabon hosted the twenty-eighth edition, with Cameroon winning the tournament.
- 2019: Egypt – Egypt hosted the twenty-ninth edition, with Algeria winning the tournament.
- 2022: Cameroon – Cameroon hosted the thirtieth edition, with Senegal winning the tournament.
Conclusion
The AFCON hosting countries history is a testament to the growth and development of football in Africa. From the early years in Sudan and Ethiopia to the modern era in Egypt, Ghana, and Cameroon, each host nation has left its mark on the tournament’s history. As the AFCON continues to grow and evolve, we can expect new host nations to emerge, bringing their unique stories and achievements to the table.
