AFCON: 20 interesting facts fans should know

The Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) has been one of the most prominent football competitions on the African continent.

Since its inception in 1957, it has captivated the hearts and imaginations of football fans all around the world demonstrating the extraordinary skill and love for the game in Africa.

National teams from all over the continent compete in this biennial event for the coveted title of African Champions.

The Africa Cup of Nations, which has a rich history and an expanding fan base, has brought nations together and produced incredible football-related moments that have become cultural icons.

This competition is a celebration of African football and a way to show the world how good the sport is on the continent. It features renowned players and unforgettable matches.

With just a few hours before the commencement of the competition in Cote d’Ivoire, Sporting Tribune gives 20 fascinating records and statistics of the tournament.

 

1. The first AFCON tournament took place in Sudan in 1957.

2. Only three countries, hosts Sudan, Egypt and Ethiopia, took part in the first tournament in February 1957 and there was no qualifying competition, with Egypt defeating hosts Sudan in the first game played at the AFCON winning 2-1 on 10th January 1957.

3. Raafat Attia scored the first goal at an AFCON tournament when he opened the scoring for Egypt in their 2-1 Semi-final win over hosts Sudan in 1957.

4. Egypt won the first two AFCON Tournaments in 1957 and 1959 while they were runners-up in 1962, losing to hosts Ethiopia in the final.

5. Cote d’Ivoire are hosting the Africa Cup of Nations for a second time, they hosted the tournament for the first time in 1984.

6. Egypt have won the most AFCON Titles (seven), followed by Cameroon (five), Ghana (four), Nigeria (three) and the Democratic Republic of Congo and the Ivory Coast (two each).

7. Cameroonian Samuel Eto’o is the leading overall Cup of Nations scorer, notching 18 goals in six tournaments between 2000 and 2010.

8. Egypt goalkeeper Essam el Hadary became the oldest player at 44 years and 21 days to feature in the tournament when he faced Cameroon in the 2017 final in Libreville as Egypt lost.

9. The last host nation to reach the AFCON Finals was Egypt who won the title on home soil in 2006.

10. The 2023 AFCON will be the 34th edition of the tournament since its founding in 1957.

11. The AFCON has been expanded from a 16 tournament which it has been since 1996 to a 24-team event in 2019.

12. The first hat-trick at the Africa Cup of Nations was scored by Ad-Diba who scored all four of Egypt’s goals in their 4-0 triumph in the 1957 final victory over Ethiopia.

13. Egypt’s Ahmed Hassan and Cameroon’s Rigobert Song hold the record for the most number of AFCON participations with each player having featured in 8 finals tournaments in 1996, 1998, 2000, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2008, 2010. A record which could be tied by Ghana’s Andre Ayew at the next edition.

14. Ghana’s Charles Gyamfi (1963–1965, 1982) and Egypt’s Hassan Shehata (Egypt 2006–2008-2010) are the only coaches to have won the title three times, Shehata is the only coach to have won the title in three successive tournaments.

15. Two persons Egypt’s Mahmoud El-Gohary (1959 as player, 1998 as coach) and Stephen Keshi, of Nigeria (1994 as player, 2013 as coach) have won the AFCON as a player and coach.

16. French man Herve Renard is the only coach to have won the AFCON with two different countries Zambia in 2012 and Cote D’Ivoire in 2015.

17. 44 Different African Nations have participated in the AFCON. Comoros and Gambia were debutants at the last edition in Cameroon, there are no newcomers in the Cote d’Ivoire.

18. Ndaye Mulamba scored 9 goals for DR Congo at the 1974 AFCON no player has managed more in a single tournament.

19. Twelve former African Champions will be making their way to Cote d’Ivoire for the 2023 edition of the Africa Cup of Nations.

20. The top 15 ranked African teams have all qualified for the 2023 edition of the Africa Cup of Nations.

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