Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON)

Morocco, December 21, 2025 - January 18, 2026

What is AFCON?

A major international competition in Africa, AFCON is generally held every two years. The final phase brings together 24 teams, split into six groups of four, followed by a knockout stage (round of 16, quarterfinals, semifinals, final).

The winner takes the continental title. There is no qualification for the Confederations Cup, a competition that has been discontinued by FIFA.

History and roll of honor

Created in 1957, AFCON is the leading competition for African national teams. Egypt is the most successful nation (7 titles), ahead of Cameroon (5) and Ghana (4).

Roll of honor: Africa Cup of Nations winners
1957, Khartoum (Sudan), Egypt beat Ethiopia, 4-0
1959, Cairo (Egypt), Egypt beat Sudan, 2-1
1962, Addis Ababa (Ethiopia), Ethiopia beat Egypt, 4-2 after extra time
1963, Accra (Ghana), Ghana beat Sudan, 3-0
1965, Tunis (Tunisia), Ghana beat Tunisia, 3-2 after extra time
1968, Addis Ababa (Ethiopia), DR Congo (then Congo-Kinshasa) beat Ghana, 1-0
1970, Khartoum (Sudan), Sudan beat Ghana, 1-0
1972, Yaoundé (Cameroon), Congo beat Mali, 3-2
1974, Cairo (Egypt), DR Congo (then Zaire) drew with Zambia, 2-2 after extra time, 2-0 in the replay
1976, Addis Ababa (Ethiopia), Morocco (single round-robin tournament, Morocco finished first)
1978, Accra (Ghana), Ghana beat Uganda, 2-0
1980, Lagos (Nigeria), Nigeria beat Algeria, 3-0
1982, Tripoli (Libya), Ghana drew with Libya, 1-1 after extra time, 7-6 on penalties
1984, Abidjan (Ivory Coast), Cameroon beat Nigeria, 3-1
1986, Cairo (Egypt), Egypt drew with Cameroon, 0-0 after extra time, 5-4 on penalties
1988, Casablanca (Morocco), Cameroon beat Nigeria, 1-0
1990, Algiers (Algeria), Algeria beat Nigeria, 1-0
1992, Dakar (Senegal), Ivory Coast drew with Ghana, 0-0 after extra time, 11-10 on penalties
1994, Tunis (Tunisia), Nigeria beat Zambia, 2-1
1996, Johannesburg (South Africa), South Africa beat Tunisia, 2-0
1998, Ouagadougou (Burkina Faso), Egypt beat South Africa, 2-0
2000, Lagos (Nigeria), Cameroon drew with Nigeria, 2-2 after extra time, 4-3 on penalties
2002, Bamako (Mali), Cameroon drew with Senegal, 0-0 after extra time, 3-2 on penalties
2004, Rades (Tunisia), Tunisia beat Morocco, 2-1
2006, Cairo (Egypt), Egypt drew with Ivory Coast, 0-0 after extra time, 4-2 on penalties
2008, Accra (Ghana), Egypt beat Cameroon, 1-0
2010, Luanda (Angola), Egypt beat Ghana, 1-0
2012, Libreville (Gabon), Zambia drew with Ivory Coast, 0-0 after extra time, 8-7 on penalties
2013, Johannesburg (South Africa), Nigeria beat Burkina Faso, 1-0
2015, Bata (Equatorial Guinea), Ivory Coast drew with Ghana, 0-0 after extra time, 9-8 on penalties
2017, Libreville (Gabon), Cameroon beat Egypt, 2-1
2019, Cairo (Egypt), Algeria beat Senegal, 1-0
2021, Yaoundé (Cameroon), Senegal drew with Egypt, 0-0 after extra time, 4-2 on penalties
2023, Abidjan (Ivory Coast), Ivory Coast beat Nigeria, 2-1

Focus on AFCON 2025-2026

AFCON 2025 is held in Morocco from December 21, 2025 to January 18, 2026, in 9 stadiums spread across 6 cities: Rabat, Casablanca, Agadir, Marrakech, Fes and Tangier.

The knockout stage (round of 16) is played from January 3 to 6, 2026.

Qualified nations (24): Morocco, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Algeria, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Senegal, Egypt, Angola, Equatorial Guinea, Ivory Coast, Gabon, Uganda, South Africa, Tunisia, Nigeria, Mali, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Comoros, Sudan, Benin, Tanzania, Botswana, Mozambique.

See also