The story of AFCON began with the founding of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) in 1953. This led to the very first edition of the tournament in 1957. Here, you will find everything about the history, host nations, number of participants, top scorers, and the winners of the Africa Cup.
The First Edition
The inaugural Africa Cup of Nations was held in Sudan in 1957. The original plan was for four nations to participate: Sudan, Egypt, Ethiopia, and South Africa. However, South Africa was disqualified due to its apartheid policies, reducing the number of participants to three.
As a result, Ethiopia advanced automatically to the final, and the very first AFCON match ever played was Sudan vs. Egypt. Egypt won that game and went on to lift the first-ever Africa Cup of Nations trophy.
Host Nation Results
Morocco is among the favorites to win AFCON 2025. While opinions differ on whether home advantage truly matters, history suggests otherwise, in 34 editions, the host nation has won 13 times. The most recent example is Côte d’Ivoire, who triumphed on home soil in 2023.
1957: Sudan (third place)
1959: Egypt (winner)
1962: Ethiopia (winner)
1963: Ghana (winner)
1965: Tunisia (second place)
1968: Ethiopia (fourth place)
1970: Sudan (winner)
1972: Cameroon (third place)
1974: Egypt (third place)
1976: Ethiopia (group stage)
1978: Ghana (winner)
1980: Nigeria (winner)
1982: Libya (second place)
1984: Côte d’Ivoire (group stage)
1986: Egypt (winner)
1988: Morocco (fourth place)
1990: Algeria (winner)
1992: Senegal (quarter-final)
1994: Tunisia (winner)
1996: South Africa (winner)
1998: Burkina Faso (fourth place)
2000: Ghana (quarter-final)/ Nigeria (second place)
2002: Mali (fourth place)
2004: Tunisia (winner)
2006: Egypt (winner)
2008: Ghana (third place)
2010: Angola (quarter-final)
2012: Equatorial Guinea (quarter-final)/ Gabon (quarter-final)
2013: South Africa (quarter-final)
2015: Equatorial Guinea (fourth place)
2017: Gabon (quarter-final)
2019: Egypt (round of 16)
2021: Cameroon (third place)
2023: Côte d’Ivoire (winner)
Number of Participating Nations
The number of participating teams has grown steadily over the years. From just three teams in 1957, the Africa Cup of Nations has expanded into a major tournament featuring 24 nations.
There have also been some unusual cases in AFCON history regarding participation numbers:
- AFCON 1996 (South Africa): Nigeria withdrew just before the tournament due to political tensions. Guinea was invited to replace them but declined the offer.
- AFCON 2010 (Angola): Togo withdrew after a terrorist attack on their team bus during their journey to Angola. The attack killed the driver and injured several players and staff, leading to their withdrawal from the tournament.
Number of Participating Countries Per Edition
| Year | Teams | Winner | Runner-up |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1957 | 3 |  Egypt |  Ethiopia |
| 1959 | 3 | Egypt |  Sudan |
| 1962 | 4 | Ethiopia | Egypt |
| 1963 | 6 |  Ghana | Sudan |
| 1965 | 6 | Ghana |  Tunisia |
| 1968 | 8 |  DR Congo | Ghana |
| 1970 | 8 | Sudan | Ghana |
| 1972 | 8 |  Congo |  Mali |
| 1974 | 8 | DR Congo |  Zambia |
| 1976 | 8 |  Morocco |  Guinea |
| 1978 | 8 | Ghana |  Uganda |
| 1980 | 8 |  Nigeria |  Algeria |
| 1982 | 8 | Ghana |  Libya |
| 1984 | 8 |  Cameroon | Nigeria |
| 1986 | 8 | Egypt | Cameroon |
| 1988 | 8 | Cameroon | Nigeria |
| 1990 | 8 | Algeria | Nigeria |
| 1992 | 12 |  Côte d’Ivoire | Ghana |
| 1994 | 12 | Nigeria | Zambia |
| 1996 | 15* |  South Africa | Tunisia |
| 1998 | 16 | Egypt | South Africa |
| 2000 | 16 | Cameroon | Nigeria |
| 2002 | 16 | Cameroon |  Senegal |
| 2004 | 16 | Tunisia | Morocco |
| 2006 | 16 | Egypt | Côte d’Ivoire |
| 2008 | 16 | Egypt | Cameroon |
| 2010 | 15* | Egypt | Ghana |
| 2012 | 16 | Zambia | Côte d’Ivoire |
| 2013 | 16 | Nigeria |  Burkina Faso |
| 2015 | 16 | Côte d’Ivoire | Ghana |
| 2017 | 16 | Cameroon | Egypt |
| 2019 | 24 | Algeria | Senegal |
| 2021 | 24 | Senegal | Egypt |
| 2023 | 24 | Côte d’Ivoire | Nigeria |
| 2025 | 24 | – | – |
All-Time Top Scorers of AFCON
Throughout its history, the Africa Cup of Nations has produced legendary goal scorers who left their mark on the tournament. From iconic strikers to surprise heroes, each edition has had its standout players whose goals helped shape AFCON’s rich legacy.
The History of AFCON Finals
The finals of AFCON are among the most memorable moments in African football. From dramatic penalty shootouts to dominant performances, these matches not only determine the champion but also write the pages of football history.