This Article Was Last Updated: June 24, 2026 by Victor Odia
This AFCON winners list is the complete record of every Africa Cup of Nations champion since the tournament began in 1957. It includes each year’s winner, runner-up, host nation, final score, winning coach and individual award winners.
If you’re new to the tournament, you can also read our complete Africa Cup of Nations guide before exploring every AFCON champion.
Who has won the most AFCON titles?
Egypt has won the most Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) titles with seven. They lifted the trophy in 1957, 1959, 1986, 1998, 2006, 2008 and 2010. In addition, they remain the only team to win three straight AFCON titles (2006, 2008 and 2010).
You can also see which players have scored the most goals in tournament history in our AFCON top scorers list.
Which country won the first AFCON?
Egypt won the first Africa Cup of Nations in 1957. Only three teams competed after South Africa was disqualified. Egypt then beat Ethiopia 4–0 in the final.
Who won AFCON 2025?
As of June 2026, Morocco are the official 2025 AFCON champions. Senegal originally won the final 1–0 after extra time. However, CAF later ruled that Senegal had forfeited the match after the team left the pitch during a protest. As a result, CAF changed the official result to a 3–0 win for Morocco. Senegal has appealed the decision to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
Which country has hosted AFCON the most times?
Egypt has hosted the Africa Cup of Nations six times (1959, 1974, 1986, 2006, 2019 and 2025). Therefore, no other country has hosted the tournament more often.
Which player has won the most AFCON titles?
Ahmed Hassan has won the Africa Cup of Nations four times (1998, 2006, 2008 and 2010), more than any other player. He also won the Player of the Tournament award in 2006 and 2010.
For more individual AFCON records, see our guides to the youngest players in AFCON history and the youngest goalscorers in AFCON history.
Which country has finished runner-up the most?
Ghana have finished as runners-up five times, more than any other nation. They lost the finals in 1968, 1970, 1992, 2010 and 2015.
Has any nation won AFCON back-to-back?
Yes. Several countries have successfully defended their title:
- Egypt: 1957–1959 and 2006–2008–2010 (three straight titles, an AFCON record)
- Ghana: 1963–1965
- Cameroon: 2000–2002
Which AFCON final had the biggest winning margin?
The biggest winning margin in an AFCON final is four goals. So far, it has happened twice:
- 1957: Egypt 4–0 Ethiopia
- 1968: DR Congo 4–0 Ghana
How often is AFCON played?
The Africa Cup of Nations takes place every two years. Although the schedule has changed at times because of weather, the football calendar and other special circumstances, CAF continues to organise the tournament every two years.
Which country has never won AFCON despite reaching the final?
Several countries have reached the AFCON final but have never won the trophy. These include:
- Uganda – runners-up in 1978
- Libya – runners-up in 1982
- Mali – runners-up in 1972
- Burkina Faso – runners-up in 2013
Meanwhile, Senegal was once on this list but won its first AFCON title at the 2021 tournament.
AFCON Winners List by Year (1957–2025)
| Year | Host Nation(s) | Winner | Runner-up | Final Score | Winning Coach |
| 1957 | Sudan | Egypt | Ethiopia | 4–0 | Mourad Fahmy |
| 1959 | United Arab Republic (Egypt) | Egypt | Sudan | 2–1 | Youssef Hegazi |
| 1962 | Ethiopia | Ethiopia | United Arab Republic (Egypt) | 4–2 (a.e.t.) | Yidnekatchew Tessema |
| 1963 | Ghana | Ghana | Sudan | 3–0 | Charles Kumi Gyamfi |
| 1965 | Tunisia | Ghana | Tunisia | 3–2 (a.e.t.) | Charles Kumi Gyamfi |
| 1968 | Ethiopia | DR Congo (Zaire) | Ghana | 1–0 | Otto Pfister |
| 1970 | Sudan | Sudan | Ghana | 1–0 | Abdel Fattah El-Nour |
| 1972 | Cameroon | Congo | Mali | 3–2 | Jean “Tshimpolo” |
| 1974 | Egypt | DR Congo (Zaire) | Zambia | 2–0 (replay) | Blagoje Vidinić |
| 1976 | Ethiopia | Morocco | Guinea | Final group stage* | Virgil Mărdărescu |
| 1978 | Ghana | Ghana | Uganda | 2–0 | Fred Osam-Duodu |
| 1980 | Nigeria | Nigeria | Algeria | 3–0 | Otto Glória |
| 1982 | Libya | Ghana | Libya | 1–1 (7–6 pens) | Fred Osam-Duodu |
| 1984 | Ivory Coast | Cameroon | Nigeria | 3–1 | Claude Le Roy |
| 1986 | Egypt | Egypt | Cameroon | 0–0 (5–4 pens) | Mike Smith |
| 1988 | Morocco | Cameroon | Nigeria | 1–0 | Claude Le Roy |
| 1990 | Algeria | Algeria | Nigeria | 1–0 | Abdelhamid Kermali |
| 1992 | Senegal | Ivory Coast | Ghana | 0–0 (11–10 pens) | Yeo Martial |
| 1994 | Tunisia | Nigeria | Zambia | 2–1 | Clemens Westerhof |
| 1996 | South Africa | South Africa | Tunisia | 2–0 | Clive Barker |
| 1998 | Burkina Faso | Egypt | South Africa | 2–0 | Mahmoud El-Gohary |
| 2000 | Ghana & Nigeria | Cameroon | Nigeria | 2–2 (4–3 pens) | Pierre Lechantre |
| 2002 | Mali | Cameroon | Senegal | 0–0 (3–2 pens) | Winfried Schäfer |
| 2004 | Tunisia | Tunisia | Morocco | 2–1 | Roger Lemerre |
| 2006 | Egypt | Egypt | Ivory Coast | 0–0 (4–2 pens) | Hassan Shehata |
| 2008 | Ghana | Egypt | Cameroon | 1–0 | Hassan Shehata |
| 2010 | Angola | Egypt | Ghana | 1–0 | Hassan Shehata |
| 2012 | Gabon & Equatorial Guinea | Zambia | Ivory Coast | 0–0 (8–7 pens) | Hervé Renard |
| 2013 | South Africa | Nigeria | Burkina Faso | 1–0 | Stephen Keshi |
| 2015 | Equatorial Guinea | Ivory Coast | Ghana | 0–0 (9–8 pens) | Hervé Renard |
| 2017 | Gabon | Cameroon | Egypt | 2–1 | Hugo Broos |
| 2019 | Egypt | Algeria | Senegal | 1–0 | Djamel Belmadi |
| 2021 | Cameroon | Senegal | Egypt | 0–0 (4–2 pens) | Aliou Cissé |
| 2023 | Ivory Coast | Ivory Coast | Nigeria | 2–1 | Emerse Faé |
| 2025 | Morocco | Morocco** | Senegal | 3–0 (awarded) | Walid Regragui |
*The 1976 AFCON had no final. Instead, the top teams played in a final group, and Morocco finished first to win the title.
**The 2025 final first ended with Senegal winning 1–0 after extra time. However, in March 2026, the CAF Appeal Board ruled that Senegal had forfeited the match. As a result, Morocco won the title with an official 3–0 result.
Key Highlights
- First champion: Egypt won the first AFCON title in 1957 after beating Ethiopia 4–0.
- Latest champion: Morocco won the latest AFCON title in 2025. Interested in the women’s competition? See every Women’s AFCON winner since the tournament began.
- Most successful nation: Egypt have won the AFCON seven times, more than any other country.
- Biggest final victory: Egypt recorded the biggest win in an AFCON final by beating Ethiopia 4–0 in 1957.
- First-time winners: Ethiopia (1962), Ghana (1963), DR Congo/Zaire (1968), Sudan (1970), Congo (1972), Morocco (1976), Nigeria (1980), Cameroon (1984), Algeria (1990), Ivory Coast (1992), South Africa (1996), Zambia (2012), and Senegal (2021) all won their first AFCON titles in those years.
AFCON Records and Statistics
Since 1957, the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) has produced many memorable moments and records. As of 2026, after the 2025 tournament, Egypt remain the most successful team in AFCON history.
Most AFCON Titles
Egypt have won more AFCON titles than any other country.
| Rank | Country | Titles | Winning Years |
| 1 | Egypt | 7 | 1957, 1959, 1986, 1998, 2006, 2008, 2010 |
| 2 | Cameroon | 5 | 1984, 1988, 2000, 2002, 2017 |
| 3 | Ghana | 4 | 1963, 1965, 1978, 1982 |
| 4 | Ivory Coast | 3 | 1992, 2015, 2023 |
| 4 | Nigeria | 3 | 1980, 1994, 2013 |
| 6 | Algeria | 2 | 1990, 2019 |
| 6 | DR Congo | 2 | 1968, 1974 |
Most Final Appearances
Reaching the final many times shows long-term success. Egypt lead this record.
| Rank | Country | Final Appearances | Titles |
| 1 | Egypt | 10 | 7 |
| 2 | Ghana | 9 | 4 |
| 3 | Nigeria | 8 | 3 |
| 4 | Cameroon | 7 | 5 |
| 5 | Ivory Coast | 5 | 3 |
| 6 | Algeria | 4 | 2 |
| 6 | Zambia | 4 | 1 |
Most Consecutive Titles
Winning AFCON more than once in a row is rare. Egypt hold the record.
| Country | Consecutive Titles | Years |
| Egypt | 3 | 2006, 2008, 2010 |
| Egypt | 2 | 1957, 1959 |
| Ghana | 2 | 1963, 1965 |
| Cameroon | 2 | 2000, 2002 |
Egypt are the only team to win three straight AFCON titles.
Biggest Final Wins
Most AFCON finals have been close. However, Egypt recorded the biggest win in a final.
| Year | Final | Result | Winning Margin |
| 1957 | Egypt vs Ethiopia | Egypt 4–0 Ethiopia | 4 goals |
| 1968 | DR Congo vs Ghana | DR Congo 1–0 Ghana | 1 goal |
| 1988 | Cameroon vs Nigeria | Cameroon 1–0 Nigeria | 1 goal |
| 2019 | Algeria vs Senegal | Algeria 1–0 Senegal | 1 goal |
Egypt’s 4–0 win over Ethiopia in 1957 remains the biggest victory in an AFCON final.
Longest Winning Streaks
Winning many matches in a row shows great consistency. Egypt hold the longest winning streak.
| Team | Consecutive Wins | Period |
| Egypt | 9 | 2008–2010 |
| Cameroon | 8 | 2002–2004 |
| Ivory Coast | 7 | 2012–2015 |
Egypt also went 24 AFCON matches without defeat between 2004 and 2017.
Youngest Champions
Many young players have won AFCON. However, CAF has not named an official youngest champion.
| Player | Country | Age | Tournament |
| Ahmed Faras | Morocco | Teenager | 1976 |
| Mohamed Aboutrika | Egypt | Early career | 2006 |
| Rigobert Song | Cameroon | Teenager | 2000 |
No official record exists for the youngest AFCON winner.
Oldest Champions
Several experienced players have won AFCON late in their careers.
| Player | Country | Age | Tournament |
| Essam El-Hadary | Egypt | 44 | Oldest player in AFCON history |
| Hossam Hassan | Egypt | 39 | 2006 champion |
Essam El-Hadary is the oldest player to appear at AFCON, while Hossam Hassan is one of the oldest champions.
Highest-Scoring Finals
Some AFCON finals have produced many goals.
| Year | Final | Result | Total Goals |
| 1962 | Ethiopia vs Egypt | Ethiopia 4–2 Egypt | 6 |
| 1965 | Ghana vs Tunisia | Ghana 3–2 Tunisia (AET) | 5 |
| 1957 | Egypt vs Ethiopia | Egypt 4–0 Ethiopia | 4 |
| 1996 | South Africa vs Tunisia | South Africa 2–0 Tunisia | 2 |
The 1962 final remains the highest-scoring AFCON final with six goals.
Most Goals in a Tournament
Individual Record
Ndaye Mulamba scored more goals in one AFCON tournament than any other player.
| Player | Country | Goals | Tournament |
| Ndaye Mulamba | Zaire (DR Congo) | 9 | 1974 |
| Laurent Pokou | Ivory Coast | 8 | 1970 |
| Rashidi Yekini | Nigeria | 5 | 1992 |
Mulamba’s nine goals remain the tournament record.
Team Record
Ivory Coast scored the most goals by one team in a single AFCON tournament.
| Team | Goals | Tournament |
| Ivory Coast | 16 | 2008 |
| Egypt | 15 | 2008 |
| Egypt | 15 | 2010 |
| Zambia | 15 | 1996 |
Most Successful Coaches
Only two coaches have won AFCON three times.
| Coach | Country Coached | AFCON Titles |
| Charles Gyamfi | Ghana | 3 |
| Hassan Shehata | Egypt | 3 |
| Otto Pfister | Cameroon | 1 |
| Claude Le Roy | Cameroon | 1 |
| Mahmoud El-Gohary | Egypt | 1 |
Charles Gyamfi and Hassan Shehata share the record with three AFCON titles each. Shehata also led Egypt to three straight titles from 2006 to 2010.
Conclusion
Since it began in 1957, the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) has become Africa’s biggest international football tournament.
Egypt are the most successful team in AFCON history with seven titles.
Players such as Roger Milla, Samuel Eto’o, Didier Drogba, Yaya Touré, Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mané and Riyad Mahrez have all left their mark on the tournament.
This page will be updated after every AFCON tournament with the latest winners, records, statistics, award winners and other key milestones.
