Tag: AFCON

The Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) known in French as Coupe d’Afrique des Nations and sometimes referred to as the TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations for sponsorship reasons is the main international men’s association football competition in Africa.

Organised by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) – the governing body of football in the continent. It was first held in 1957 were only three nations: Egypt, Sudan, and Ethiopia participated although South Africa was originally scheduled to join, but was disqualified due to the apartheid policies of the government in power at the time.

Since its inception, AFCON has become the biggest football event in Africa and now has 24 countries in the main draw and 52 in the qualifiers.

The African Cup of Nations, which was held in random intervals but became a biennial competition in 1968, has been held 33 times and 14 different countries have lifted the championship till now, with Egypt becoming the first AFCON winners after beating Ethiopia 4-0 in the finals of the very first.

The tournament gradually expanded to eight teams in 1968, which increased the level of competition with six countries winning the title between 1970 and 1980, out of which five teams won it for the first time.

With new nations joining CAF, the field for AFCON was increased to 12 in 1992 and 16 in 1996. The 2019 and 2021 editions saw 24 teams take part in the continental showpiece and were switched to odd years in 2013 to prevent clashes with the FIFA World Cup in even years.

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The tournament, which has featured some of the best players ever in world football, including Didier Drogba (Ivory Coast), Sadio Mane (Senegal), and Mohamed Salah (Egypt) including Olympic gold medallist and Cameroon legend Samuel Eto’o, the highest goalscorer in AFCON with 18 goals, followed by Laurent Pokou of Ivory Coast with 14.

The most successful team in the AFCON is Egypt, claiming the title seven times, including a hat-trick between 2006 and 2010. The country has also finished runners-up on three occasions; 1962, 2017, 2021, and third three times in 1963, 1970, and 1974).

The next most successful country in AFCON after Egypt is Cameroon, with five titles to their name. At the same time, Senegal – the reigning champions – clinched the AFCON 2021 (held in 2022) cup after beating Egypt on penalties in the final as their first-ever triumph. Nigeria has also lifted the cup three times in 1980, 1994, and 2013.

Below is the list of the African Cup of Nations winners and runners-up including the years the matches were held.

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

Senegal winger Krepin Diatta may face disciplinary action after accusing the Confederation of African Football (CAF) of being “corrupt” following the reigning champions’ exit from the Africa Cup of Nations on penalties to hosts Cote d’Ivoire.

 “You have killed us. You are corrupt. Keep your African Cup,” Monaco winger Diatta said to CAF staff in an outburst overheard by reporters on leaving the stadium in Ivorian capital Yamoussoukro.

Cote d’Ivoire  won the last-16 tie 5-4 on penalties after a 1-1 draw, as Senegal continued a remarkable run which has seen no reigning champion win an AFCON knockout tie since Egypt claimed a third consecutive title in 2010.

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Diatta was angry that Senegal were not awarded a penalty early in the second half when Ismaila Sarr went down in a tangle of legs in the Ivory Coast box with defender Odilon Kossounou.

Senegal were leading 1-0 at the time after Habib Diallo’s early goal, but Gabonese referee Pierre Ghislain Atcho did not point to the spot and did not come across to the pitch-side monitor to review the footage.

Cote d’Ivoire , who were themselves unhappy that Senegal star Sadio Mane escaped with a yellow card for a dangerous early challenge on Ibrahim Sangare, went on to equalise late in normal time with a spot-kick of their own which was given after a VAR check.

 “You go to the VAR to give them a penalty, while our guy (Sarr) picks up the ball 40 metres from goal, goes on a run into the box and you don’t want to go to the VAR?

 “I’m sorry but that is going too far. I am really sorry but they have killed our competition,” Diatta added.

Cote d’Ivoire  will play a quarter-final on Saturday in Bouake against Mali or Burkina Faso, who meet in the last 16 later on Tuesday.

Speaker of the House of Representatives, Abbas Tajudeen has charged the Super Eagles to go for victory and bring home the coveted trophy at the ongoing African Cup of Nations.

In his message to the Nigerian senior national team, said the Super Eagles have the potential to win the AFCON considering the array of stars and experienced players in the team.

The Speaker said football and several other sports have been a potent tool for uniting Nigerians across ethno-religious lines, adding that the citizens show more patriotism, unity and love through their passion for the national teams.

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He expressed his appreciation to the delegation of the House, comprising some members and several former Super Eagles players who are currently in Cote d’Ivoire to cheer the team to victory.

The Speaker urged the relevant government agencies and officials who are managing the Nigerian team at AFCON to ensure that their welfare is given the utmost priority, saying it would go a long way to motivate the nationals.

There was jubilation on the streets of Abidjan on Wednesday night following the surprise qualification of the Elephants of Cote d’Ivoire for the Round of 16 at the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).

Young and old Ivorians crowded the streets chanting and expressing joy at the new development.

All hopes were feared lost after their humiliating 4-0 defeat to Equatorial Guinea but the hosts needed a dramatic turn of events in other matches to secure their round of 16 ticket .

The Atlas lions of Morocco did the Elephants a huge favour by beating Zambia 1-0 in San Pedro, making the impossible possible. Cote d’Ivoire are now in the knockout phase as one of the best four third-placed teams.

Read Also: Super Eagles: Fans score big with Goldberg, Life Beer & Zagg  on AFCON

Prior to the qualification, the Ivorian Football Federation (FIF) terminated the contract of 70-year-old French coach Jean-Louis Gasset and his assistant Ghislain Printant.

Gasset, who has coached for more than 35 years in France and Spain, took over in Cote d’Ivoire from Patrice Beaumelle in May 2022.