Kenya Sport

Complete List of AFCON Champions From 1957 to 2026

Since the first African Cup of Nations in 1957, over a dozen nations have lifted the prestigious trophy. This guide covers all the champions from the tournament's inception up to 2026, highlighting key moments and teams that have shaped African football history.

AFCON Winners Through the Years

  • Egypt: 7 Titles (1957, 1959, 1986, 1998, 2006, 2008, 2010) - Venues: Municipal Stadium, Prince Farouk Stadium, Stade du 4-Aout, Ohene Djan Stadium
  • Cameroon: 5 Titles (1984, 1988, 2000, 2002, 2017) - Venues: Stade Felix Houphouet-Boigny, Stade Mohamed V, Stade du 26 Mars, Stade de I'Amitie
  • Ghana: 4 Titles (1963, 1965, 1978, 1982) - Venues: Stade du 11-Juin, Accra Sports Stadium, Chedly Zouiten Stadium
  • Nigeria: 3 Titles (1980, 1994, 2013) - Venues: FNB Stadium, Stade El Menzah, National Stadium in Lagos
  • Ivory Coast: 3 Titles (1992, 2015, 2023) - Venues: Stade de I'Amitie, Estadio de Bata, Alassane Ouattara Stadium
  • Algeria: 2 Titles (1990, 2019) - Venues: Cairo International Stadium, Stade 5 Juillet 1962
  • DR Congo: 2 Titles (1968, 1974) - Venues: Nasser Stadium, Addis Ababa Stadium
  • Senegal: 2 Titles (2021, 2026) - Venues: Olembe Omnisport Stadium, Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium
  • Zambia: 1 Title (2012) - Venue: Stade d'Angondje
  • Tunisia: 1 Title (2004) - Venue: Mustapha Ben Jannet Stadium
  • Sudan: 1 Title (1970) - Venue: Municipal Stadium
  • South Africa: 1 Title (1996) - Venue: FNB Stadium
  • Ethiopia: 1 Title (1962) - Venue: Addis Ababa Stadium
  • Morocco: 1 Title (1976) - Venue: Addis Ababa Stadium
  • Congo: 1 Title (1972) - Venue: Stade Omnisports

Key Teams in AFCON History

Egypt tops the list with seven titles, including the very first tournament in 1957 and a remarkable streak of three consecutive wins from 2006 to 2010. Their dominance set the tone for African football’s growth.

Cameroon, known as the Indomitable Lions, follows closely with five championships, their first in 1984 and recent success in 2017, beating Egypt in a thrilling final.

Ghana claimed four titles mainly during the 1960s to 1980s, establishing themselves as one of the continent’s strongest teams. Their 1963 victory was marked by a decisive 3-0 win over Sudan.

Nigeria and Ivory Coast each have three titles. Nigeria’s earliest came in 1980, while Ivory Coast is noted for dramatic penalty shootout wins against Ghana in 1992 and 2015, plus a home triumph in 2023.

Algeria and DR Congo have both lifted the trophy twice. Algeria's victories came in 1990 and 2019, while DR Congo’s wins were in 1968 and 1974, the latter decided by a replay match.

Senegal entered the multiple-winner club recently with titles in 2021 and 2026, highlighted by a penalty shootout victory in 2021 and a narrow win over Morocco in 2026, led by Sadio Mane.

Single-Time Champions

Several countries have won AFCON once, including Zambia (2012), Tunisia (2004), Sudan (1970), South Africa (1996), Ethiopia (1962), Morocco (1976), and Congo (1972). Each has contributed memorable moments, such as Zambia’s dramatic penalty win against Ivory Coast and Ethiopia’s high-scoring final comeback in 1962.

AFCON Winners Summary

  • Most Titles: Egypt with 7 trophies
  • Close Pursuer: Cameroon with 5 titles
  • Number of Winning Teams: 15 countries have won at least once by 2026
  • Latest Champion: Ivory Coast in 2023
  • Recent Runner-up: Senegal after winning in 2021 and 2026

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Who has the most AFCON titles? Egypt holds the record with 7 championships.
  • How many times has Senegal won? Senegal has won twice as of 2026.
  • How many titles does Cameroon have? Cameroon has secured 5 AFCON titles.
  • What about Ghana’s AFCON wins? Ghana has 4 titles.
  • Who won the first AFCON? Egypt won the inaugural tournament in 1957.
  • Who is the latest AFCON champion? Ivory Coast won in 2023.
  • How many nations have won AFCON so far? Fifteen teams have claimed the trophy by 2026.

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