Top 7 most successful teams in AFCON history
The African Cup of Nations, also known as AFCON (Africa Cup of Nations), is held every 2 years. Since 2013, the tournament has been moved to being held in odd-numbered years to avoid overlapping with the FIFA World Cup. Let's take a look at the 7 teams with the best results in this tournament.
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Democratic Republic of Congo, Algeria, Ivory Coast – 2 titles
DR Congo, Algeria and Ivory Coast have been crowned champions of the Africa Cup of Nations twice, with the first team winning the championship in 1968. DR Congo defeated Ghana 1-0 in the final held in Ethiopia.
6 years later, DR Congo regained the AFCON title, defeating Zambia in the final match of the tournament. Ndaye Mulamba scored nine goals at the 1974 tournament on his way to glory - a record that still stands at AFCON.
Algeria won its first AFCON title on home soil in 1990. After defeating Nigeria 5-1 in the group stage, Chérif Oudjani's lone goal was the difference in the final. "The Greens" won their second AFCON championship in 2019, defeating Senegal 1-0. Riyad Mahrez scored an impressive stoppage-time goal in the semi-final against Nigeria, while former Arsenal academy star Ismael Bennacer was named Player of the Tournament.
Ivory Coast needed to decide victory on the 11 meter mark to beat Ghana in the 1992 tournament, when the final penalty shootout ended in an 11-10 win for the "Elephants". This was the first major tournament final in history to see every player on the field take a penalty kick. The Ivory Coast team won another AFCON title in 2015, after once again defeating Ghana on penalties.
Nigeria – 3 titles
"Super Eagles" is one of the most respected teams in Africa and won the AFCON in 1980, 1994 and 2013. At the same time, Nigeria became the first African team to win a gold medal at the Olympics in Atlanta in 1996.
Nigeria's most recent AFCON glory saw the country defeat Bukina Faso 1-0 in the final in South Africa. Former West Ham United loan player Emmanuel Emenike is the tournament's top scorer for Nigeria, with 5 goals.
Ghana – 4 titles
Ghana hopes to end a 42-year wait for success in this year's tournament. The most recent of this country's four titles was won in 1982.
Ghana was the dominant force in the first AFCON tournaments, winning two of the five finals after consecutive trophies in 1963 and 1965. The third crown came in 1978 for the "Black Stars " after defeating Uganda in the final. Four years later, the Ghana team successfully defended the throne. Two of Ghana's successes at AFCON both came when the West African country hosted the tournament.
Cameroon – 5 titles
Cameroon is the country that has won the most trophies in AFCON history in the 21st century, with 3 of the 5 titles coming since 2000. The "Indomitable Lions" have reached 3 consecutive finals in recent years. 1980 and won the AFCON championship in 1984 and 1988. Cameroon defeated Nigeria in both final matches, while losing to Egypt in the 1986 final.
The second golden generation in the history of the Cameroon national team appeared in the early 2000s. Samuel Eto'o led the attack, leading the home team to consecutive AFCON championships in 2000 and 2002, defeating Nigeria and Senegal on the penalty spot. Cameroon also reached the final of the FIFA Confederations Cup in 2003.
The "Indomitable Lions" won their fifth AFCON championship in 2017. Vincent Aboubakar scored the decisive goal in the 88th minute as Cameroon came from behind to defeat Egypt in the final.
Egypt – 7 titles
The most successful team in AFCON history is Egypt, with the North African country a record seven times winning the continental tournament. Egypt have a history of success at the Africa Cup of Nations and became the first team to win three consecutive titles from 2006 to 2010.
The 2010 coronation is still the most recent victory of "The Pharaohs". Within 13 years, Egypt finished second at AFCON 2017 and 2021. Liverpool striker Mohamed Salah will aim to win an AFCON title, after missing appointments with the trophy. The Egyptian legend scored 55 goals in 96 appearances for the national team.
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