Six days before Morocco hosts the 35th edition of the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations, the competition’s past offers a powerful reminder of why AFCON remains the most emotive sporting event on the continent.
From Egypt’s trailblazing triumph in 1957 to Cote d’Ivoire’s dramatic success in 2024, AFCON has evolved into more than a football tournament. It is a mirror of Africa’s political shifts, cultural pride and sporting ambition — a stage where nations have announced themselves to the world and rewritten their own histories.
Across 34 completed editions, champions have emerged from every corner of the continent, each victory adding another thread to a uniquely African football tapestry.
Beginnings shaped by a changing continent
AFCON’s origins were inseparable from Africa’s awakening. When Egypt lifted the inaugural trophy in 1957 — and defended it two years later — the tournament symbolised a continent beginning to find its voice on the global stage.
Ethiopia’s 1962 success carried similar weight, a declaration of national pride at a time when football served as an extension of political identity.
Ghana then took centre stage. Under Kwame Nkrumah’s Pan-African vision, the Black Stars’ back-to-back titles in 1963 and 1965 turned football into a statement of unity and ambition.
By 1968, the emergence of Zaire — now the Democratic Republic of Congo — underlined AFCON’s growing geographical balance, signalling Central Africa’s arrival among the elite.
A competition broadens its horizons
The 1970s marked a period of expansion and diversity. Sudan’s 1970 victory on home soil opened the decade, followed by Congo Brazzaville’s breakthrough two years later.
Morocco’s triumph in 1976 stood out as a landmark moment. It was a tournament won through tactical discipline rather than flair, introducing a North African blueprint that would influence future generations. Ghana’s return to the summit in 1978 reinforced its status as one of AFCON’s early giants.
As the 1980s dawned, Nigeria claimed its first title in Lagos, igniting a footballing culture that would shape West Africa for decades. Cameroon’s 1984 success soon followed, ushering in an era defined by physical power, organisation and continental consistency.
Golden generations take control
By the late 1980s and 1990s, AFCON had entered a period of tactical maturity. Egypt’s 1986 triumph restored its authority, while Cameroon’s 1988 victory confirmed the Indomitable Lions as a continental force.
Algeria’s 1990 title, won at home, reflected the sophistication of Maghreb football at its peak. Two years later, Cote d’Ivoire endured a nerve-shredding penalty shoot-out to lift its first AFCON, a moment that encapsulated both the drama and unpredictability of the tournament.
Nigeria’s 1994 success in Tunisia followed a golden generation spearheaded by players who would soon shine on the world stage. But few moments rivalled South Africa’s 1996 victory — a fairytale triumph just two years after the end of apartheid, when football became a symbol of reconciliation and hope.
Cameroon’s back-to-back titles in 2000 and 2002, powered by a young Samuel Eto’o, closed the era with authority and flair.
Egypt’s unmatched reign and football’s healing power
The early 2000s delivered two contrasting narratives. Tunisia celebrated a home triumph in 2004, but it was Egypt that soon redefined dominance.
Between 2006 and 2010, the Pharaohs achieved what no other nation has managed — three consecutive AFCON titles. It was a period of tactical excellence, squad depth and relentless consistency that cemented Egypt as the competition’s most successful nation.
Then came one of AFCON’s most emotional chapters. Zambia’s 2012 victory in Libreville, at a stadium near the site of the 1993 plane crash that claimed an entire generation of players, transcended sport. It was football as remembrance, resilience and redemption.
Modern era, shifting power
The past decade has seen traditional heavyweights reassert themselves — and new champions emerge.
Nigeria’s 2013 success reminded the continent of its enduring quality. Cote d’Ivoire followed in 2015, finally rewarding a golden generation that had come agonisingly close for years. Cameroon lifted the trophy again in 2017, reinforcing its reputation as AFCON’s ultimate survivors.
Algeria’s 2019 triumph under Riyad Mahrez marked a tactical rebirth, while Senegal’s long-awaited breakthrough in 2022 ended decades of frustration and near misses.
The Ivorians’ dramatic victory in the 2023 edition, achieved on home soil after an improbable turnaround, underlined the tournament’s enduring unpredictability and emotional pull.
What the numbers reveal
Seven titles make Egypt the competition’s most decorated nation, a benchmark of consistency unmatched elsewhere.
Cameroon’s five trophies and Ghana’s four speak to resilience across generations, while Nigeria and Cote d’Ivoire, with three apiece, reflect West Africa’s depth and competitiveness.
Perhaps most telling is the growing list of first-time or recent champions — Senegal, Zambia and South Africa — evidence that success at AFCON is no longer the preserve of a select few.
AFCON beyond silverware
Every AFCON trophy carries meaning beyond football. Victories have reflected national rebirths, political transitions and collective healing. From street celebrations in Accra to midnight prayers in Dakar, AFCON titles live far beyond the final whistle.
The tournament has produced moments that define eras — Egypt’s pioneering lift in 1957, South Africa’s rainbow triumph in 1996, Zambia’s tears in 2012, and Algeria’s modern tactical masterclass in 2019.
Morocco 2025: the next chapter
As Morocco readies nine venues for the next edition, anticipation is rising. Playing on home soil brings opportunity — and pressure.
Can Egypt reclaim its throne? Will Senegal confirm its new status as a powerhouse? Or will another nation rise to claim a place in AFCON history, adding a fresh chapter to a story seven decades in the making?
One certainty remains: AFCON will once again reflect the heartbeat of a continent.
The List of AFCON title winners
1957 Egypt | 1959 Egypt | 1962 Ethiopia | 1963 Ghana | 1965 Ghana | 1968 Zaire | 1970 Sudan | 1972 Congo | 1974 Zaire | 1976 Morocco | 1978 Ghana | 1980 Nigeria | 1982 Ghana | 1984 Cameroon | 1986 Egypt | 1988 Cameroon | 1990 Algeria | 1992 Ivory Coast | 1994 Nigeria | 1996 South Africa | 1998 Egypt | 2000 Cameroon | 2002 Cameroon | 2004 Tunisia | 2006 Egypt | 2008 Egypt | 2010 Egypt | 2012 Zambia | 2013 Nigeria | 2015 Ivory Coast | 2017 Cameroon | 2019 Algeria | 2022 Senegal | 2024 Ivory Coast
