AFCON winners list chronological explained for beginners

AFCON Winners List Chronological Explained for Beginners

The African Cup of Nations (AFCON) is one of the most prestigious international football tournaments in Africa, featuring the best teams and players from the continent. In this article, we will take a chronological look at the winners of the AFCON from its inception to the present day.

Early Years (1957-1972)

The first AFCON tournament took place in 1957 in Khartoum, Sudan, with Egypt emerging as the first champions. The early years of the tournament saw a mix of teams from North and West Africa dominating the competition. Here are the winners from this period:

• 1957: Egypt

  – Won the inaugural tournament, defeating Ethiopia 4-0 in the final.

• 1959: Egypt – Defeated Sudan 4-0 in the final to retain their title.
• 1962: Egypt – Won their third consecutive title, defeating Sudan 2-0 in the final.
• 1963: Egypt

  – Defeated Ghana 3-0 in the final to make it four titles in a row.
• 1965: GHANA – Won their first AFCON title, defeating Egypt 3-2 in the final.
• 1968: CONGO-BRAZAVILLE – Won their first title, defeating Ghana 1-0 in the final.
• 1970: SUDAN – Won their first title, defeating Ghana 3-0 in the final.
• 1972: CONGO-BRAZAVILLE – Retained their title, defeating Mali 3-2 in the final.

West African Dominance (1974-1992)

In the 1970s and 1980s, West African teams began to dominate the AFCON, with countries like Ghana, Nigeria, and Cameroon emerging as powerhouses. Here are the winners from this period:

• 1974: ZAIRE – Won their first title, defeating Zaire 2-0 in the final.
• 1976: MAROCCO – Won their first title, defeating Ghana 1-1 (4-2 on penalties) in the final.
• 1978: GHANA – Won their second title, defeating Uganda 2-0 in the final.
• 1980: NIGERIA – Won their first title, defeating Algeria 3-0 in the final.
• 1982: GHANA – Won their third title, defeating Libya 1-1 (7-6 on penalties) in the final.
• 1984: CAMEROON – Won their first title, defeating Nigeria 3-1 in the final.
• 1986: Egypt – Won their fifth title, defeating Ivory Coast 0-0 (5-4 on penalties) in the final.
• 1988: CAMEROON – Retained their title, defeating Nigeria 1-0 in the final.
• 1990: ALGERIA – Won their first title, defeating Nigeria 1-0 in the final.
• 1992: IVOIRE COAST – Won their first title, defeating Ghana 9-3 on penalties in the final.

Modern Era (1994-2020)

In the modern era, teams from North and West Africa have continued to dominate the AFCON, with Egypt and Cameroon emerging as the most successful teams in the tournament. Here are the winners from this period:

• 1994: NIGERIA – Won their second title, defeating Zambia 2-1 in the final.
• 1996: ETOILE DU SAHEL – Won their first title, defeating Zambia 0-0 (4-3 on penalties) in the final.
• 1998: Egypt – Won their sixth title, defeating South Africa 2-0 in the final.
• 2000: CAMEROON – Won their fifth title, defeating Nigeria 4-3 on penalties in the final.
• 2002: SENEGAL – Won their first title, defeating Cameroon 0-0 (3-2 on penalties) in the final.
• 2004: MOZAMBIQUE – Won their first title, defeating Tunisia 2-1 in the final.
• 2006: EGYPT – Won their seventh title, defeating Ivory Coast 0-0 (4-2 on penalties) in the final.
• 2008: Egypt – Won their eighth title, defeating Cameroon 1-0 in the final.
• 2010: EGYPT – Won their ninth title, defeating Ghana 1-0 in the final.
• 2012: ZAMBIA – Won their first title, defeating Ivory Coast 8-7 on penalties in the final.
• 2013: NIGERIA – Won their third title, defeating Burkina Faso 1-0 in the final.
• 2015: EGYPT – Won their tenth title, defeating Ghana 1-0 in the final.
• 2017: CAMEROON – Won their sixth title, defeating Egypt 2-1 in the final.
• 2019: ALGERIA – Won their second title, defeating Senegal 1-0 in the final.
• 2021: SENEGAL – Won their second title, defeating Egypt 4-2 on penalties in the final.

From its inception to the present day, the AFCON has been a platform for African teams to showcase their skills and compete for the ultimate prize. With a mix of teams from North, West, and Central Africa dominating the competition, the AFCON remains one of the most exciting and unpredictable international football tournaments in the world.