Africa Cup of Nations

Africa Cup of Nations
source
Name	Africa Cup of Nations
Organiser	Confederation of African Football
Founded	1957
Region	Africa
Number of teams	24 (finals)
Current	2023 Africa Cup of Nations

Africa Cup of Nations is the principal international association football competition for senior men's national teams in Africa, organized by the Confederation of African Football. First held in 1957, the tournament has evolved from a four-team competition into a 24-team continental championship that determines the continental champion and often affects qualification and seeding for global events such as the FIFA World Cup and the FIFA Confederations Cup. The competition has showcased celebrated players, storied rivalries, and has influenced club careers across leagues such as the Premier League, Ligue 1, and Serie A.

History

The inaugural edition in 1957 featured teams from Egypt, Ethiopia, and South Africa delegation issues leading to a four-team arrangement; the first champion emerged from Egypt. The tournament expanded in stages through the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s, with editions reflecting decolonization and nation-state formation involving countries like Ghana, Nigeria, Cameroon, Algeria, and Morocco. Political events including coups and sanctions have affected participation by delegations from Zaire, Libya, and Tunisia in various years. The 1990s and 2000s saw professionalization, with players from Ajax, FC Barcelona, AC Milan, Bayern Munich, and Manchester United increasingly prominent, while nations such as Egypt and Cameroon established eras of dominance. The 2010s brought format reforms and scheduling changes to coordinate with European club calendars involving clubs like Real Madrid and Chelsea FC, as well as the introduction of winter tournaments hosted by nations like Gabon and Equatorial Guinea.

Format and qualification

Finals format evolved from knockout-only brackets to group stages followed by knockout rounds, now featuring 24 teams drawn into groups and progressing through round-of-16, quarter-finals, semi-finals, and a final. Qualification is administered by Confederation of African Football competitions and regional tournaments including West African Football Union and Council for East and Central Africa Football Associations qualifiers, with seeding influenced by performances in prior editions and rankings such as the FIFA World Ranking. Individual qualification campaigns have featured notable campaigns by Senegal, Ivory Coast, Egypt, Algeria, Ghana, Tunisia, Morocco, and Cameroon, often shaped by player availability from clubs like Olympique de Marseille and Tottenham Hotspur. Tiebreakers and discipline rules reference regulations similar to those used in UEFA European Championship and Copa América.

Host selection and venues

Host selection is conducted by Confederation of African Football Congress votes, with candidate bids often submitted by national federations such as Egyptian Football Association, Nigeria Football Federation, South African Football Association, Moroccan Royal Football Federation, and Algerian Football Federation. Political stability, infrastructure investments, and stadium standards involving venues like Stade du 5 Juillet, Stade Mohamed V, Stade d'Angondjé, and Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium influence choice. Hosts have included countries across regions: Egypt, Ghana, Cameroon, Tunisia, South Africa, Gabon, Equatorial Guinea, Libya, and Morocco. Co-hosting arrangements and sudden relocations—prompted by events involving CAF decisions, government changes, or continental crises—have affected editions; notable relocations involved Guinea and Zimbabwe-era adjustments. Venue upgrades often intersect with continental initiatives such as FIFA-led development programs and partnerships with construction firms that also worked on Wembley Stadium and Stade de France.

Results and records

Multiple nations hold distinguished records: Egypt has achieved the most titles, while Cameroon, Ghana, Nigeria, Algeria, Ivory Coast, and Morocco have each won multiple championships. Legendary players including Mahmoud El-Gohary-era stars, Samuel Eto'o, Didier Drogba, George Weah, Abedi Pele, Riyad Mahrez, Sadio Mané, and Mohamed Salah have influenced outcomes. Individual match records include high-scoring contests and rare penalty shoot-outs similar to historic finals at Wembley-style spectacles. Upsets and surprise runs by underdog sides such as Zambia (notably their 2012 victory), and breakthrough performances by nations like Tunisia and Burkina Faso have added to the competition's narrative. Top goalscorers and most-capped players appear on all-time lists alongside notable managers from clubs including FC Porto, Inter Milan, and Ajax who have led national sides.

Tournament statistics and awards

Awards presented include the Golden Boot, Golden Ball, Best Goalkeeper, and Best Young Player, often mirroring awards at FIFA World Cup and UEFA Champions League finals. Statistical categories cover goals, assists, clean sheets, and disciplinary records; tournament analytics draw on metrics used by clubs like Manchester City and analytics groups such as Opta Sports and StatsPerform. Attendance records reflect stadium capacities in hosts such as Stade Mohamed V and Borg El Arab Stadium, while broadcasting rights involve media partners like beIN Sports, SuperSport, and public broadcasters including BBC Sport and Canal+. Award recipients have included players who also achieved club success with teams like Chelsea FC, Juventus, Liverpool FC, and Paris Saint-Germain.

Organization and governance

The competition is governed by the Confederation of African Football which sets regulations, disciplinary codes, and competition calendars in coordination with FIFA and regional bodies including UNAF and CECAFA. Governance issues have involved integrity, refereeing standards led by officials from FIFA Referees Committee, and coordination with national associations such as the Football Association of Zambia and Cameroon Football Federation. Financial oversight, sponsorship deals with corporations like TotalEnergies and broadcasting contracts are overseen by CAF executive structures and subject to audit and compliance frameworks akin to those in UEFA and CONMEBOL. Recent reforms have targeted transparency, VAR implementation aligned with IFAB protocols, and strategic development programs linked to continental football academies and youth competitions run by federations such as Mali Football Federation and Senegalese Football Federation.

Category:International association football competitions in Africa