By Grace Ekpo
The much-anticipated AFCON 2024 starts tomorrow, Saturday, January 13. The Teranga Lions of Senegal will defend the title won two years ago by beating Gambia in its opening match on Monday, January 15.
ThisNigeria brings you a list of the past winners of the tournament.
1957: The first edition of the Africa Cup of Nations was held in Khartoum, Sudan, in February 1957, and it was won by Egypt. The Pharaohs of Egypt defeated the host nation, Sudan, in the semi-finals and Ethiopia in the final to win the most prestigious football competition in Africa. Only four teams participated in the tournament – Egypt, Sudan, Ethiopia, and South Africa. However, South Africa was disqualified for wanting to field an all-white team.
1959: Egypt successfully defended its victory at the maiden edition by beating Sudan. This tournament had only three teams, a repetition of the first edition.
1962: In this edition, nine teams participated, including Nigeria and Tunisia. However, this edition was won by the host nation, Ethiopia.
1963: This edition was hosted by the Black Stars of Ghana, who went on to win it, defeating Sudan in the final.
1965: Ghana retained the crown, equaling Egypt as two-time winners.
1968: This edition was hosted by Ethiopia. Congo-Kinshasa won its first championship, beating Ghana in the final 1−0.
1970: The 1970 African Cup of Nations was won by Sudan as Ghana was beaten again in the final. Matches were covered for television for the first time during this edition.
1972: This edition was hosted by Cameroon. The People’s Republic of the Congo won its first championship, beating Mali in the final 3−2.
1974: Egypt hosted the 1974 African Cup of Nations. Zaire won its second championship (their first win came as Congo-Kinshasa), beating Zambia 2−0 in the replay after a 2-2 result in the earlier tie.
1976: It was hosted by Ethiopia and won by Morocco.
1978: Ghana won its third championship, beating Uganda in the final 2−0. Ghana was also the host nation.
1980: The 1980 African Cup of Nations was hosted by Nigeria, who went on to win the tournament, beating Algeria in the final 3−0.
1982: It was hosted by Libya and won by Ghana. The Black Stars won its fourth championship, beating Libya on penalties 7−6 after a 1−1 draw.
1984: Cameroon won its first championship, beating Nigeria in the final 3−1, as the tournament was hosted by Ivory Coast.
1986: This edition was won by the host nation, Egypt. The Pharaohs won their third championship, beating Cameroon on penalty kicks 5–4 after a goalless draw.
1988: It was hosted by Morocco and won by Cameroon, who defeated Nigeria in the final 1−0.
1990: It was hosted and won by Algeria. The Fennec Foxes defeated Nigeria in the final 1–0, winning their first tournament.
1992: It was hosted by Senegal and won by Ivory Coast, who defeated Ghana on penalty kicks 11–10 after a goalless draw.
1994: Nigeria won its second championship, beating Zambia 2–1 in the final. This edition was hosted by Tunisia.
1996: It was hosted by South Africa, who replaced the original hosts Kenya. South Africa won its first championship, beating Tunisia in the final 2–0. It should be noted that the defending champions, Nigeria, withdrew from the tournament at the final moment under pressure from then-dictator Sani Abacha.
1998: The 1998 African Cup of Nations in Burkina Faso was won by Egypt, who defeated South Africa in the final 2–0.
2000: It was co-hosted by Ghana and Nigeria, who jointly replaced Zimbabwe as the host. Cameroon won in a controversial manner, defeating the Super Eagles of Nigeria 4–3 on penalties.
2002: This edition was hosted by Mali and won by Cameroon, who defeated Senegal 3–2 via penalty shootouts after a goalless draw.
2004: Tunisia won its first title after defeating one-time champions Morocco 2–1 in the final. Tunisia was also the host nation.
2006: Egypt won its fifth championship, beating Ivory Coast in the final 4–2 in a penalty shootout after a goalless draw. Egypt was also the host nation.
2008: Egypt won the tournament, beating Cameroon 1–0 in the final. It was hosted by Ghana.
2010: It was held in Angola and won by Egypt. Egypt won the tournament, their seventh ACN title and an unprecedented third in a row, beating Ghana 1–0 in the final.
2012: This edition was co-hosted by Equatorial Guinea and Gabon and won by Zambia.
2013: South Africa hosted the tournament for the second time, and it was won by Nigeria, who defeated Burkina Faso 1-0 in the final.
2015: The tournament was initially scheduled to be hosted by Morocco, who later demanded postponement of the event because of the Ebola virus epidemic in West Africa. Subsequently, Morocco was ruled out as a host country and replaced by Equatorial Guinea. It was won by Ivory Coast, who defeated Ghana 9–8 in a penalty shoot-out after the final finished goalless following extra time.
2017: The tournament was hosted by Gabon after CAF rescinded Libya’s hosting rights. This edition was won by Cameroon, who defeated seven-time champions Egypt 2–1 in the final.
2019: The tournament was hosted by Egypt. Algeria defeated Senegal 1–0 in the final, winning their second title and first since 1990.
2021: The tournament was hosted by Cameroon and won by Senegal.
