Winners of the Africa Cup of Nations from 1957 to 2021 – Egypt and Cameroon Emerge as Top Winners
The Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), the premier international men’s football tournament in Africa, has seen Egypt and Cameroon emerge as dominant forces over the years.
Egypt, the inaugural champions, has won the title seven times, while Cameroon has clinched it five times. Senegal, the current champions, achieved their first victory in the 2021 edition (held in 2022) by defeating Egypt in the final.
Initiated in 1957 with just three teams, AFCON has expanded significantly, featuring 24 teams in the main draw and 52 in the qualifiers.
The tournament is organized by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and has been held 33 times, with 14 different countries having won the championship.
Egypt marked their dominance early, winning the first AFCON in 1957 by defeating Ethiopia. The tournament initially had irregular intervals but became a biennial event from 1968.
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The number of participating teams increased over time, from eight in 1968 to twelve in 1992 and sixteen in 1996. The latest editions in 2019 and 2021 saw 24 teams compete.
The scheduling of AFCON was adjusted in 2013 to avoid conflicting with the FIFA World Cup, moving to odd-numbered years.
The tournament has showcased world-class talents like Didier Drogba (Ivory Coast), Sadio Mane (Senegal), and Mohamed Salah (Egypt), with Cameroon’s Samuel Eto’o holding the record for the most goals in AFCON history.
Egypt’s success in the tournament includes a remarkable hat-trick of wins from 2006 to 2010, while Cameroon has also had notable achievements with five titles and several podium finishes.
Senegal’s recent victory in 2021 marked a significant milestone as their first win in the history of the competition.
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African Cup of Nations winners list from 1957 – 2021
| Year | Winners | Runners-up |
|---|---|---|
| 1957 | Egypt | Ethiopia |
| 1959 | Egypt | Sudan |
| 1962 | Ethiopia | Egypt |
| 1963 | Ghana | Sudan |
| 1965 | Ghana | Tunisia |
| 1968 | DR Congo | Ghana |
| 1970 | Sudan | Ghana |
| 1972 | Congo | Mali |
| 1974 | DR Congo | Zambia |
| 1976 | Morocco | Guinea |
| 1978 | Ghana | Uganda |
| 1980 | Nigeria | Algeria |
| 1982 | Ghana | Libya |
| 1984 | Cameroon | Nigeria |
| 1986 | Egypt | Cameroon |
| 1988 | Cameroon | Nigeria |
| 1990 | Algeria | Nigeria |
| 1992 | Ivory Coast | Ghana |
| 1994 | Nigeria | Zambia |
| 1996 | South Africa | Tunisia |
| 1998 | Egypt | South Africa |
| 2000 | Cameroon | Nigeria |
| 2002 | Cameroon | Senegal |
| 2004 | Tunisia | Morocco |
| 2006 | Egypt | Ivory Coast |
| 2008 | Egypt | Cameroon |
| 2010 | Egypt | Ghana |
| 2012 | Zambia | Ivory Coast |
| 2013 | Nigeria | Burkina Faso |
| 2015 | Ivory Coast | Ghana |
| 2017 | Cameroon | Egypt |
| 2019 | Algeria | Senegal |
| 2021 | Senegal | Egypt |
