AFCON

Côte d'Ivoire is proud to be hosting the prestigious TotalEnergies 2023 Africa Cup of Nations for the second time in its history. This eagerly-awaited soccer competition will take place in 6 new, ultra-modern stadiums in 5 cities across the country. Through this 34th edition, COCAN 2023 is committed to offering a unique experience to spectators and supporters, focusing on three key themes: hospitality, passion and heritage. Whether it's the warm welcome, the fervor of the fans or the showcasing of Côte d'Ivoire's rich cultural heritage, this CAN promises to be a memorable one.

CAN 2021 was a memorable edition! Originally scheduled for 2021, it was postponed to 2022 due to the Covid-19 pandemic, but its name remained unchanged: "CAN 2021". Cameroon hosted the tournament for the second time in its history, having been the host country in 1972. Twenty-four nations took part in this exciting competition. And what an epic victory it was for Senegal! They won the CAN for the first time in their history, beating Egypt on penalties. Cameroon's Vincent Aboubakar was top scorer with eight goals, while Senegal's Sadio Mané was named best player of the competition by CAF. This CAN will go down in the annals of African soccer.

Due to delays in the infrastructure works, CAF withdrew the organization in Cameroon and chose Egypt six months before the event. Then, following resolutions from a symposium it organized in 2017 in Morocco, CAF set the date of the CAN in the summer (June-July) and adopted a new competition format by increasing the number of participants to 24. The Round of 16 stage is introduced. Burundi, Mauritania and Madagascar are participating for the first time. Algeria flies over the tournament and gets its second star in the final against Senegal (1-0).

Still in crisis, Libya renounces the organization of the CAN. CAF chooses Gabon to host the event. This edition marks the 60th anniversary of the competition. Cameroon earned their fifth star by beating Egypt (2-1) in the final, beating them in the 1986 and 2008 finals. Defending champions Côte d'Ivoire were eliminated in the group stage. The Cameroonian Junior Bassogog is named best player of the tournament.

Morocco having withdrawn because of the magnitude of the Ebola virus epidemic, the organization is entrusted to Equatorial Guinea. Reigning champions Nigeria failed to qualify. In accordance with the rules, Mali are eliminated in the group phase by a draw in favour of Guinea. Equatorial Guinea advance to the last four. But the highlight of this year's edition was the victory of Côte d'Ivoire, who won their second CAN, a few months after Didier Drogba's international retirement. As in 1992, Côte d'Ivoire's happiness came to Ghana at the end of a memorable penalty shoot-out (0-0, 9-8 tab).

The CAF having decided to go at the pace of odd years in order not to compete with the World Cup, the 29th edition of the CAN took place one year later in South Africa, replacing Libya shaken by a political and military crisis. Nigeria won their third title by beating Burkina Faso (1-0) in the final. Stephen Keshi becomes, with the Egyptian Mahmoud Al-Gohary, winner as player and coach. Cape Verde is making its first appearance. Emmanuel Emenike and Mubarak Wakaso finish top scorers of the tournament with 4 goals.

For the second time in the history of the CAN, the competition is jointly organised by two countries: Gabon and Equatorial Guinea. And for the first time, the defending champions are absent from the next edition. Egypt, along with Nigeria, Cameroon, Algeria and South Africa, failed to qualify. Equatorial Guinea, Botswana and Niger, on the other hand, are newcomers to the competition. The Ivorian "golden generation", the overwhelming favourites, again failed to reach the final on penalties, this time against Zambia (0-0, 7-8 tab), who claimed their first trophy.

The first CAN organised in Angola was a tragedy. Togo's bus is the victim of a terrorist attack as the team returns to its base in Cabinda. The Sparrowhawks forfeit. There are only 15 participants left in the tournament. Egypt achieved an incredible hat-trick by winning all their matches, including the final against Ghana (1-0). The Pharaohs hold the absolute record: 7 titles! Ahmed Hassan, named best player of the tournament, became the most titled player of the CAN with 4 trophies (1998, 2006, 2008, 2010). And the legendary Mahmoud Al-Gohary became the most successful coach (1998, 2006, 2008, 2010).

Laurent Pokou, who is in Ghana, sees Samuel Eto'O take away his record as the top scorer in the history of the African Cup of Nations, a record he has held since 1970. The Indomitable Lions captain's consolation for his team, however, was a poor one, as they lost out to Egypt in the final (0-1). Egypt has achieved its second "back to back" after 1957 and 1959) and Cameroon (2000, 2002). The Pharaohs bring their total to 6 CAN. Sudan are back in the competition after a 32-year absence. This is the fourth time Ghana have hosted the CAN.

For the fourth CAN organised in Egypt, we are witnessing the first of the Ivorian "golden generation" led by Didier Drogba. The Elephants made it to the final, but lost out to the hosts on penalties (0-0, 2-4 tab). The Pharaohs hold the record of the number of CAN won with 5 titles including 3 at home. For the first time since the creation of the CAN, the title holder is not automatically qualified and must obtain his ticket through the qualifiers. Another first: CAF authorizes the participants to select 23 players, instead of the usual 22.

Tunisia, the only Maghreb nation not to have won the CAN so far, have added their name to the competition's prize list. The third home attempt is the right one. The Eagles of Carthage defeated Morocco (2-1) in the final. The naturalized Brazilian, Francileudo Santos, is a major player in the Tunisian coronation. For the first time since 1982, Côte d'Ivoire are absent from the CAN. Rwanda's only participation in the competition to date has been in Rwanda. Nigeria captain Jay-Jay Okocha was named best player of the tournament.

For the first CAN organised in Mali, Cameroon is the third nation to succeed in the "back to back" since Egypt (1957, 1959) and Ghana (1963, 1965). All the participants have already played at least one final phase of the African Cup of Nations. In the final, the Indomitable Lions defeated Senegal on penalties (0-0, 3-2 tab). Cameroon, who have conceded no goals in the tournament, join Ghana and Egypt in the standings with four titles. Rigobert Song was named best player of the tournament. Senegal caused a sensation a few months later by qualifying for the quarter-finals of the World Cup.

AFCON 2000 is the first co-hosted tournament: It took place both in Ghana and Nigeria. The joint bid was accepted after the organization withdrew from Zimbabwe. It is the first time in the history of football that a major competition has been organised by several countries at the same time. The number of teams and the format do not change. Cameroon won its third AFCON by beating Nigeria (2-2, 4-3 tab). However, the game was marred by a successful Nigerian penalty shoot-out that was not validated by the referees. Afterwards, the "Lions Indomptables" acknowledged that they had benefited from an error by the referee.

Burkina Faso hosts AFCON for the first time. The exotic touch does not go unnoticed with the motorcycles used as stretcher pullers. The "Burkina Faso Stallions" reached the semi-finals, beaten by Egypt, which will be the future winner of this AFCON, winning against South Africa (2-0) during the final. The Pharaohs join Ghana as a 4-times AFCON winner. But the big thrill of this CAF Africa Cup of Nations was the victory of the DR Congo over Burkina Faso in a rank match, at the end of a stunning scenario. While the Congolese team was led (1-4), Burkina Faso equalized in the last five minutes by scoring three goals, and finally won during a penalty shootout.

CAF's founding country in 1957, South Africa played in its first AFCON tournament as host, following Kenya's withdrawal. For the first time, the tournament was expanded to 16 participating nations. But the format remained the same: four groups of four teams, with the top two qualifying for the quarter-finals. The Nigerian state decided at the last minute to boycott the CAF Africa Cup of Nations and withdraw its team. Still, with 15 teams, the competition was going on. During this tournament, people discovered the Bafana Bafana, who dominated Tunisia (2-0) in the final game, right in front of their president, Nelson Mandela. After the fall of the apartheid regime, multiracial South Africa is now united around its national team.

Wishing to join Morocco and Algeria as AFCON winners, Tunisia were living a real nightmare at home for the second time after 1965. The Carthage Eagles did not make it past the group stage. The format of the competition adopted two years earlier was retained. Gabon and Sierra Leone are participating for the first time. The Zambian team, decimated by a plane crash a few months earlier off the coast of Gabon, managed to reach the final, led by African Golden Ball winner Kalusha Bwalya (one of the few survivors of the tragedy). But the strongest of all was Nigeria, who won their second title.

After three decades of disappointment, Côte d'Ivoire won their first AFCON in Senegal after a tremendous final, with the longest penalty shoot-out in history, against Ghana (0-0, 11-10 tab), which played without their star player Abedi Pele, suspended for the final. The Ivorian team have flown over all their games, where they have had to get rid of Algeria (the title holder), Zambia and Cameroon. For a first in Senegal, no newcomers have qualified for the knockout stage. This 18th edition is marked by an increased number of participants to 12, and the adoption of a new format with 4 pools of 3 teams, and the introduction of quarter-finals.

Algeria were finally crowned champions at home. They have reached the final four of AFCON four times in the last decade. Algeria is the second country from Maghreb to win the cup. Having reached maturity, the "Fennecs" of Rabah Madjer, Chérif El-Ouazzani and Djamel Menad beat Nigeria 1-0 in the final, thanks to a goal from Chérif Oudjani. Qualified for the World Cup, Egypt sends a B team, invoking security reasons. Nigerian striker Rachidi Yekini is particularly decisive, offering victory to his team every time he has scored.

Morocco replaces Zambia and hosts the 16th edition of AFCON. The first in the Issa Hayatou presidency, brought to the head of CAF in August 1987. The first African nation to make it past the first round of the 1986 World Cup, Morocco saw their dream of a second title shattered in the semi-finals by Cameroon, who won their third consecutive CAN final 1-0 against Nigeria. Ivory Coast is knocked out at the group stage, because of a favorable draw for Algeria. For the first time, the trophy of the best player is awarded. Morocco's Aziz Bouderbala is the first winner.

The AFCON returned to Egypt for the third time after 1959 and 1974. After a 27-year wait, the "Pharaohs of the Nile" did not miss the chance to snatch their third title, their second at home. Under the lead of African Golden Ball winner Mahmoud Al-Katib, the Egyptians defeated Cameroon on a penalty shootout in the final (0-0, 5-4). Ivory Coast ends on the third step of the podium. The Senegal of Jules Bocandé, Roger Mendy and Thierno Youm, who were yet the favourites to win the competition, did not make it past the group stage. Roger Milla finished top scorer of the tournament with 4 goals.

The 1984 CAF Africa Cup of Nations is played to the rhythm of makossa in Abidjan and Bouaké. After a great performance at the World Cup two years earlier, Cameroon beat Nigeria (3-1) in the final and reached for the first time the roof of Africa, led by "Doctor" Théophile Abega, Roger Milla, Joseph Antoine Bell, Kundé Emmanuel or Djonkep Bonaventure. As the host country of AFCON for the first time, Ivory Coast has missed "its" tournament, but has held up to the challenge of organising it, notably with the rehabilitation of the Félix Houphouët-Boigny stadium and the construction of the Bouaké stadium within a few months.

Libya hosts the CAN for the first time in its history. The competition is gaining popularity in the media. The games are broadcasted entirely. The CAF Africa Cup of Nations becomes the largest continental competition. Libya failed to make history when they lost on penalties to Ghana in the final (1-1, 6-7 tab). The Black Stars won their fourth trophy, a record at the time. Amongst the stars George Alhassan, Opoku Nti and Emmanuel Quarshie, a little Ghanaian prodigy appears: Abedi Ayew, known as "Pele".

In a bid to take the continent to the next level, Nigeria are hosting the CAN for the first time in their history. The first CAN in a decade thrives on competition thanks to television. CAF returns to the classic format of 2 groups of 4 teams with qualification in semi-finals for the first two. In the impregnable citadel of the Surulere Stadium in Lagos, with almost 100,000 spectators, the "Super Eagles" hovered over the tournament and crushed Algeria (3-0) in the final. Nigerian winger Segun Odegbami, nicknamed 'Mathematical' and scorer of two goals during the game, is becoming a legend in African football.

After ten years of dearth, Ghana is back on top of its game. The Black Stars won the final against Uganda (2-0). Winner for the third time, Ghana keep the trophy for good. Another format is adopted for the tournament: 2 groups of 4 teams, the first 2 of which will face each other in the final. The competition marks the first time Upper Volta has participated in the competition, after the simultaneous disqualification of Côte d'Ivoire and Mali. Impressive with his team-mate Godfrey Kisitu, scorer of three goals, Phillip Omondi finished as the competition's top scorer with one more.

For the third time, Ethiopia is hosting the CAN. All 8 participants have already played at least once in the competition. For this 10th edition, CAF adopts a new format: 2 pools of 4 teams, the first two qualify for a final group, the first of which is declared winner. In this game, the Morocco of the excellent Ahmed Faras is proving to be intractable, ahead of Guinea and Nigeria. This is the first title for a Maghreb country. The Syli National N'Jo Lea striker finished top scorer with four goals.

Egypt hosts AFCON for the second time after 1959. This time, however, the "Pharaohs of the Nile" were not crowned at home. They fell to an exceptional Zaire (ex-Congo-Kinshasa) team in the semi-finals. To give themselves every chance of winning the tournament, Zaire secured the participation of their best players by buying out all the contracts of the players from their European clubs. Zambia, newcomers to the competition along with Mauritius, are finally beaten in the final against the "Leopards" after a replayed game (2-2, 0-2). Zairean striker Mulamba Ndaye scored nine goals in a single edition (record to date).

Cameroon is the first country in Southern Africa to host AFCON. For the first time, Ethiopia is absent from the competition since its inception. Mali, Morocco, Kenya and Togo are playing for the first time in the tournament. For their first participation, the Eagles created a surprise by reaching the final, but unfortunately, they lost to Congo (2-3). Les "Diables Rouges" win their first title, with an exceptional Jean-Michel Mbono who scored two goals in the final. The Malian Fantamady Keita finished top scorer of the tournament with 5 goals.

For the second time, Sudan hosts AFCON. It is the first edition to be broadcast live on African television. Cameroon and Guinea are participating for the first time. Once again, Ethiopia is the only country to have taken part in every edition of AFCON since its creation. Ghana became Ivory Coast's Bugbear by eliminating them for the third time in a row and playing in their fourth final in a row. However, the Black Stars were defeated by Sudan (0-1), who won their first title. Laurent Pokou, who scored a record five times ahead of Ethiopia, earned his nickname "the man from Asmara".

Three years later, AFCON is returning to the even years. Ethiopia hosts the event for the second time since its inception. It is the only country to have taken part in every edition of AFCON since 1957. The number of participants increases from 6 to 8. Algeria and Congo discover the emotions of the competition. Two groups of 4 teams are formed and the first two from each group play the semi-finals. This formula becomes classic until 1992. Ghana lost their trophy in the final to Congo-Kinshasa (0-1). Laurent Pokou revealed his scoring talents to Africa and Ivory Coast finished third place - once again.

An increasing number of countries are registered for qualifications. Sudan is missing the event for the first time since its inception. Egypt, although qualified, withdrew and were replaced by Congo-Leopoldville (future Zaire). Along with Senegal and Ivory Coast, these three countries are making their debut in AFCON. The Black Stars achieved the back-to-back title triumph by winning the final against Tunisia after extra time (3-2). Asante Kotoko striker Osei Kofi was at the top of his game at the time. For their first participation, the "Elephants" won the bronze medal.

In order to put the tournament on odd years, the 4th edition of the CAN was organised one year later in Ghana. The number of participants increases from 4 to 6. The host country and Nigeria are the newcomers to the event. As for the format, two pools of three teams are formed. Ghana and Sudan, who finished top of their respective groups, will meet in final. Playing at home in front of their supporters, the Black Stars won their first African championship with a 3-0 victory. This is the third time in four editions that the host country has won the tournament.

This is truly the first post-colonial AFCON. For the first time, an knockout stage is set. Tunisia and Uganda join hosts Ethiopia and holders Egypt for the final tournament. A total of four games are played. In the final, the "Walyas" took revenge on the "Pharaohs of the Nile" in extra time (4-2) and won what remains to this day the first and only CAF Africa Cup of Nations in their history. In the Ethiopian ranks, a certain Ydnekatchew Tessema, who took over the reins of CAF in 1972, shone in the Ethiopian ranks. He remained in that position until his death in 1987.

The second edition of AFCON took place two years later in Egypt. Most African countries are still not independent. The actors are the same as in the previous edition: Egypt, Sudan and Ethiopia. The format changes. The three squads compete in a single pool. At home, the "Pharaohs of the Nile" held their title by beating Ethiopia (4-0) and Sudan. Mahmoud Al Gohary made his mark by finishing as the tournament's top scorer. For Egypt, however, the joy will give way to a 27-year drought in the competition.

February 10, 1957, Sudan. Kick-off of the first edition of AFCON with three participating nations: Sudan, Egypt, Ethiopia. Although a founding country of the CAF a few months earlier, South Africa is disqualified due to Apartheid. Only two matches were played. The Pharaohs, winners of the host country in the semi-finals, won the first CAN in their history by beating Ethiopia (4-0) in the final. Mohamed Diab Al Attar, better known as Ad-Diba, is the top scorer in the CAF Africa Cup of Nations with five goals, including a quadruplet in the final.