Africa Cup of Nations facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Africa Cup of Nations

Organising body	CAF
Founded	1957; 68 years ago (1957)
Region	Africa
Number of teams	24 (finals) 54 (eligible to enter qualification)
Current champions	Ivory Coast (3rd title)
Most successful team(s)	Egypt (7 titles)

The Africa Cup of Nations, often called AFCON, is the biggest international football competition for men's teams in Africa. It's organized by the Confederation of African Football (CAF). This exciting tournament first took place in 1957.

Since 1968, AFCON has been held every two years. In 2013, it changed to odd-numbered years so it wouldn't clash with the FIFA World Cup.

In the very first tournament in 1957, only three countries played: Egypt, Sudan, and Ethiopia. South Africa was supposed to join but couldn't because of its government's policies at the time.

Over the years, the tournament grew a lot. More teams wanted to play, so they needed a special qualifying round. By 1998, 16 teams competed in the final tournament. In 2017, it was decided to expand the tournament to 24 teams starting from 2019. The timing also changed from January to June.

Egypt is the most successful team, winning the cup seven times. Cameroon has won five times, and Ghana four times. Egypt even won three times in a row in 2006, 2008, and 2010! The Ivory Coast are the current champions, after beating Nigeria 2–1 in the 2023 final.

History of AFCON

How it Started: The Early Years (1950s–1960s)

Egypt's captain Hanafy Bastan holding the first Africa Cup of Nations trophy in 1957.

The idea for the Africa Cup of Nations began in June 1956. The first tournament was held in Khartoum, Sudan, in February 1957. Only the four founding countries of CAF were meant to play: Egypt, Sudan, Ethiopia, and South Africa.

However, South Africa was not allowed to play. This was because their government only wanted to pick white players for their team. So, Ethiopia got a free pass to the final. Only two matches were played. Egypt became the first champions by beating Sudan 2–1 and then Ethiopia 4–0 in the final.

Two years later, in 1959, Egypt hosted the second AFCON in Cairo. The same three teams played, and Egypt won again. They beat Sudan 2–1 in the final.

By 1962, nine teams wanted to join the third AFCON in Addis Ababa. This was the first time teams had to play qualifying matches to get into the tournament. Host Ethiopia and defending champion Egypt automatically qualified. They were joined by Nigeria and Tunisia. Egypt reached the final for the third time, but Ethiopia won in extra time.

Ghana's Strong Start (1960s)

In 1963, Ghana played in the tournament for the first time as hosts. They won the title by beating Sudan in the final. Two years later, in Tunisia, Ghana won again. They became two-time champions, just like Egypt.

In 1965, a rule was added that limited teams to only two players who played for clubs outside Africa. This rule lasted until 1982.

The 1968 tournament expanded to eight teams. These teams were split into two groups of four. The top two teams from each group went to the semi-finals. This system was used until 1992. The Democratic Republic of Congo won their first title, beating Ghana in the final.

From 1968 onwards, the tournament was held every two years in even-numbered years. This changed after the 2012 tournament, as it moved to odd-numbered years from 2013. This was to avoid clashing with the FIFA World Cup.

Ivory Coast forward Laurent Pokou was the top scorer in 1968 and 1970. His 14 goals were a record until 2008. The 1970 tournament in Sudan was the first to be shown on television. Sudan won the trophy, beating Ghana.

Many Champions (1970s)

Six different countries won titles between 1970 and 1980. These were Sudan, Congo-Brazzaville, Zaire, Morocco, Ghana, and Nigeria.

Zaire won their second title in 1974. They played Zambia in the final. The first match ended in a 2–2 draw, so they had to play again two days later. Zaire won the replay 2–0. Their forward, Mulamba Ndaye, scored all four goals in those two matches. He set a record with nine goals in one tournament.

Morocco won their first title in 1976. Ghana won their third championship in 1978, becoming the first country to win three titles.

Cameroon's Rise (1980s)

Between 1980 and 1990, Cameroon reached the AFCON final three times in a row. They won the competition twice, in 1984 and 1988. They lost once to Egypt in 1986.

Algeria was another strong team during this time. They lost in the final against hosts Nigeria in the 1980 tournament. This allowed Nigeria to win their first championship. Algeria reached the semi-finals in almost every tournament after 1980 until they won in 1990. Ghana won their fourth title in 1982, beating host Libya in a penalty shootout.

South Africa Returns (1990s)

The 1990 African Cup of Nations was hosted by Algeria. Algeria won their first championship, beating Nigeria 1–0 in the final. Nigeria had now lost three finals in four tournaments.

The 1992 Cup of Nations expanded to 12 teams. The teams were divided into four groups of three. The top two teams from each group went to the quarter-finals. Ghana reached the final, but their star player, Abedi "Pele" Ayew, was suspended. Ghana lost to Ivory Coast in a very long penalty shootout. Ivory Coast set a record by not letting any opponent score in their six matches.

The 12-team format was used again in 1994. Nigeria won the tournament, beating Zambia. Zambia's team had faced a terrible plane crash a year before. Nigerian forward Rashidi Yekini was the top scorer again.

South Africa hosted the 20th AFCON in 1996. This was their first time playing after a long ban was lifted. The ban was because of the country's past policies. The tournament expanded to 16 teams, but Nigeria pulled out for political reasons, so only 15 teams played. South Africa, known as Bafana Bafana, won their first title at home, beating Tunisia.

South Africa reached the final again two years later in Burkina Faso. But they lost to Egypt, who won their fourth cup.

Egypt's Amazing Wins (2000s)

Egypt playing against Cameroon in the 2008 Africa Cup of Nations Final.

The 2000 tournament was hosted by Ghana and Nigeria. Cameroon beat Nigeria in a penalty shootout after a 2–2 draw. In 2002, Cameroon's Indomitable Lions won their second title in a row. This was the first time a team had won back-to-back titles since Ghana in the 1960s. Cameroon beat Senegal on penalty kicks.

In 2004, the hosts Tunisia won their first title, beating Morocco 2–1 in the final. The 2006 tournament was also won by the hosts, Egypt. They won their fifth title, a new record.

Before the 2008 Africa Cup of Nations, some European clubs complained about the tournament's timing. It takes place during the European football season, so players miss club matches. In 2008, FIFA president Sepp Blatter suggested moving the tournament to June or July by 2016. This would fit better with the international football calendar. However, it would be difficult for many West African countries to host then due to their rainy season. Egypt won the 2008 tournament in Ghana, beating Cameroon 1–0 in the final. This was their record-extending sixth title.

Changing Years (2010s)

Ivory Coast players celebrating their win at the 2015 AFCON.

Egypt set a new record in the 2010 tournament in Angola. They won their third title in a row, an amazing achievement in African football. They beat Ghana 1–0 in the final, keeping the gold-plated cup forever. This brought their total to seven continental titles. Egypt became the first African nation to win three consecutive cups. They also set a record of 19 unbeaten matches in the Cup of Nations.

In May 2010, it was announced that the tournament would move to odd-numbered years from 2013. This was to stop it from happening in the same year as the FIFA World Cup. This meant there were two tournaments within twelve months: January 2012 and January 2013.

Cameroon players celebrating their win at the 2017 AFCON.

In 2012, Zambia won the final after a penalty shootout against Ivory Coast. This match was special because it happened near the site of a 1993 plane crash that killed most of their national team. Nigeria won the 2013 tournament, beating Burkina Faso.

In 2014–15, the West African Ebola virus epidemic affected the tournament. Football activities in Liberia were stopped, and a stadium was used as a treatment center. The 2015 Africa Cup of Nations was supposed to be in Morocco. But they refused to host due to worries about the Ebola outbreak. So, it was moved to Equatorial Guinea. In 2016, Total became a main sponsor, and the tournament was renamed the "Total Africa Cup of Nations."

Tournament Grows (Since 2019)

More changes were discussed for the Africa Cup of Nations. In July 2017, two big changes were approved: moving the tournament to the Northern Hemisphere summer and expanding it from 16 to 24 teams. These changes started with the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations.

Algeria won the African Cup of Nations 2019, beating Senegal 1–0 in the final. This was Algeria's second title. Nigeria came third. The winners received $4.5 million, and the runners-up got $2.5 million.

Matches for the 2021 qualifiers were postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The 2021 Africa Cup of Nations tournament, hosted by Cameroon, was also moved to 2022 because of the pandemic. The prize money for the winner increased to $5 million. Senegal won the tournament for the first time, beating Egypt on penalties in the final.

How the Tournament Works

The number of teams and the way the tournament is played have changed over the years. Usually, it starts with teams playing in groups. Then, the best teams move on to a knockout stage, where losing means you're out.

Since 1962, the competition has two parts: a qualifying stage and a final tournament. The country hosting the final tournament automatically gets a spot. In the early years, the defending champion also qualified automatically.

Qualifying for the Tournament

Map showing countries by their number of AFCON titles.

The qualifying stage has changed as more countries joined the Confederation of African Football (CAF). It started in 1962. Before that, only the founding nations played in the final tournament.

In 1962, new countries joined, so CAF created a qualifying stage with knockout matches. This system was used until 1992. After that, the qualifying stage became more like the UEFA European Championship. Teams play in groups, and the best teams from each group qualify.

The Final Tournament

Only the host country gets an automatic spot in the final tournament. The other 23 teams earn their spots through a qualification tournament.

In the finals, the 24 teams are divided into six groups of four teams. Each team in a group plays against the others once.

After the group stage, the top two teams from each group move on. Also, the four best third-placed teams get to advance. These teams then play in the "round of 16." The winners go to the quarter-finals, then the semi-finals. The teams that lose in the semi-finals play for third place, and the winners play in the final match.

Trophies and Medals

The current Africa Cup of Nations trophy.

Throughout its history, three different trophies have been given to the winners of the Africa Cup of Nations.

The first trophy was made of silver. It was called the Abdelaziz Abdallah Salem Trophy, named after the first CAF president. Ghana got to keep this trophy forever in 1978 because they were the first to win the tournament three times.

The second trophy was used from 1980 to 2000. It was called the "Trophy of African Unity." It was a cylindrical shape with the Olympic rings and a map of Africa engraved on it. Cameroon won this trophy permanently in 2000 after winning it three times.

In 2001, the third and current trophy was introduced. It's a gold-plated cup made in Italy. Cameroon was the first team to win this new trophy in 2002. Egypt won this gold-plated cup permanently in 2010 after winning it three times. However, unlike before, Egypt received a special full-size replica to keep, not the original. The winner of each tournament now receives a replica trophy.

CAF also gives out medals: 30 gold medals for the winning team, 30 silver medals for the runners-up, and 30 bronze medals for the third-place team. The fourth-place team gets 30 diplomas.

Tournament Results

Summary of Wins

Team	Winners	Runners-up	Third place	Fourth place	Total
Egypt	7 (1957, 1959*1, 1986*, 1998, 2006*, 2008, 2010)	3 (19621, 2017, 2021)	3 (19631, 19701, 1974*)	3 (1976, 1980, 1984)	16
Cameroon	5 (1984, 1988, 2000, 2002, 2017)	2 (1986, 2008)	2 (1972*, 2021*)	1 (1992)	10
Ghana	4 (1963*, 1965, 1978*, 1982)	5 (1968, 1970, 1992, 2010, 2015)	1 (2008*)	4 (1996, 2012, 2013, 2017)	14
Nigeria	3 (1980*, 1994, 2013)	5 (1984, 1988, 1990, 2000*, 2023)	8 (1976, 1978, 1992, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2010, 2019)	—	16
Ivory Coast	3 (1992, 2015, 2023*)	2 (2006, 2012)	4 (1965, 1968, 1986, 1994)	2 (1970, 2008)	11
Algeria	2 (1990*, 2019)	1 (1980)	2 (1984, 1988)	2 (1982, 2010)	7
DR Congo	2 (19682, 19743)	—	2 (1998, 2015)	2 (19723, 2023)	6
Zambia	1 (2012)	2 (1974, 1994)	3 (1982, 1990, 1996)	—	6
Tunisia	1 (2004*)	2 (1965*, 1996)	1 (1962)	3 (1978, 2000, 2019)	7
Sudan	1 (1970*)	2 (1959, 1963)	1 (1957*)	—	4
Senegal	1 (2021)	2 (2002, 2019)	—	3 (1965, 1990, 2006)	6
South Africa	1 (1996*)	1 (1998)	2 (2000, 2023)	—	4
Ethiopia	1 (1962*)	1 (1957)	1 (1959)	2 (1963, 1968*)	5
Morocco	1 (1976)	1 (2004)	1 (1980)	2 (1986, 1988*)	5
Congo	1 (1972)	—	—	1 (1974)	2
Mali	—	1 (1972)	2 (2012, 2013)	3 (1994, 2002*, 2004)	6
Burkina Faso	—	1 (2013)	1 (2017)	2 (1998*, 2021)	4
Uganda	—	1 (1978)	—	1 (1962)	2
Guinea	—	1 (1976)	—	—	1
Libya	—	1 (1982*)	—	—	1
Equatorial Guinea	—	—	—	1 (2015*)	1

* hosts

¹ as United Arab Republic

² as Congo-Kinshasa

³ as Zaire

All-time Tournament Records

Map showing how well countries have done in the Africa Cup of Nations.     Champion      Runner-up      Third place      Fourth place      Quarter-finals      Round of 16      Group stage

Champions by Region

Winning Two or Three Times in a Row

Some teams have won the Africa Cup of Nations multiple times in a row.

Team	Two championships	Three championships
Egypt	1: (1957, 1959)	1: (2006, 2008, 2010)
Ghana	1: (1963, 1965)	—
Cameroon	1: (2000, 2002)	—

Bold indicates tournament hosts

Awards Given Out

After the tournament, several awards are given to players and teams:

• The Best Player award goes to the most valuable player.
• The Top Goal-scorer award is for the player who scores the most goals.
• The Best Goalkeeper award is for the most outstanding goalkeeper.
• The Best Young Player award is for the best young talent.
• The Team of the Tournament is a list of the best players combined into one team.
• The Fair Play Award goes to the team with the best sportsmanship.

See Also

In Spanish: Copa Africana de Naciones para niños

• African Nations Championship
• Women's Africa Cup of Nations
• U-23 Africa Cup of Nations
• U-20 Africa Cup of Nations
• U-17 Africa Cup of Nations
• List of Africa Cup of Nations official mascots
• List of Africa Cup of Nations official match balls
• List of Africa Cup of Nations songs and anthems
• List of association football competitions