NaijNaira
Senegal are the current African Nations Cup winner, winning the trophy for the first time after beating Egypt on penalties (4-2) in the final.
Algeria were the defending champions but were knocked out in the group stage.
Cameroon, on the other hand, who are the hosts, lost their bid for the title in the semi-finals after losing on penalties to Egypt and eventually finished third.
Here is the full list of Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) winners from 1957 to date.
African Nations Cup Winners
AFCON 1957 CHAMPIONS: EGYPT
HOST COUNTRY: SUDAN
DATES: 10–16 FEBRUARY 1957
RUNNERS-UP: ETHIOPIA
THIRD: SUDAN
PARTICIPANTS: 3 TEAMS
TOP SCORER: EGYPT’S EL-DIBA (5 GOALS)
BEST PLAYER: EGYPT’S EL-DIBA
1959 AFCON CHAMPIONS: UNITED ARAB REPUBLIC
HOST COUNTRY: UNITED ARAB REPUBLIC
DATES: 22–29 MAY 1959
RUNNERS-UP: SUDAN
THIRD: ETHIOPIA
PARTICIPANTS: 3 TEAMS
GOALS SCORED: 8 (2.67 PER MATCH)
TOP SCORER: UNITED ARAB REPUBLIC’S MAHMOUD EL-GOHARY (3 GOALS)
BEST PLAYER: UNITED ARAB REPUBLIC’S AD-DIBA
AFCON 1962 CHAMPIONS: ETHIOPIA
HOST COUNTRY: ETHIOPIA
DATES: 14–21 JANUARY 1962
RUNNERS-UP: EGYPT (UNITED ARAB REPUBLIC)
THIRD: TUNISIA
PARTICIPANTS: 4 TEAMS
GOALS SCORED: 18 (4.5 PER MATCH)
TOP SCORERS: UNITED ARAB REPUBLIC’S BADAWI ABDEL FATTAH (3 GOALS) & ETHIOPIA’S MENGISTU WORKU (3 GOALS)
BEST PLAYER: ETHIOPIA MENGISTU WORKU
1963 AFCON CHAMPIONS: GHANA
HOST COUNTRY: GHANA
DATES: 24 NOVEMBER – 1 DECEMBER 1963
RUNNERS-UP: SUDAN
THIRD: EGYPT (UNITED ARAB REPUBLIC)
PARTICIPANTS: 6 TEAMS
GOALS SCORED: 33 (4.13 PER MATCH)
TOP SCORER: UNITED ARAB REPUBLIC’S HASSAN EL-SHAZLY (6 GOALS)
BEST PLAYER: UNITED ARAB REPUBLIC’S HASSAN EL-SHAZLY
AFCON 1965 CHAMPIONS: GHANA
HOST COUNTRY: TUNISIA
DATES: 12–21 NOVEMBER 1965
RUNNERS-UP: TUNISIA
THIRD: IVORY COAST
PARTICIPANTS: 6 TEAMS
GOALS SCORED: 31 (3.88 PER MATCH)
TOP SCORERS: GHANA’S BEN ACHEAMPONG (3 GOALS), GHANA’S OSEI KOFI (3 GOALS) & IVORY COAST’S EUSTACHE MANGLÉ (3 GOALS)
BEST PLAYER: GHANA OSEI KOFI
1968 AFCON CHAMPIONS: DR CONGO (CONGO-KINSHASA)
HOST COUNTRY: ETHIOPIA
DATES: 12–21 JANUARY 1968
RUNNERS-UP: GHANA
THIRD: IVORY COAST
PARTICIPANTS: 8 TEAMS
GOALS SCORED: 52 (3.25 PER MATCH)
TOP SCORER: IVORY COAST’S LAURENT POKOU (6 GOALS)
BEST PLAYER: DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO’S KAZADI MWAMBA
AFCON 1970 CHAMPIONS: SUDAN
HOST COUNTRY: SUDAN
DATES: 6–16 FEBRUARY 1970
RUNNERS-UP: GHANA
THIRD: EGYPT (UNITED ARAB REPUBLIC)
PARTICIPANTS: 8 TEAMS
GOALS SCORED: 51 (3.19 PER MATCH)
TOP SCORER: IVORY COAST’S LAURENT POKOU (8 GOALS)
BEST PLAYER: IVORY COAST’S LAURENT POKOU
1972 AFCON CHAMPIONS: CONGO
HOST COUNTRY: CAMEROON
DATES: 23 FEBRUARY – 5 MARCH 1972
RUNNERS-UP: MALI
THIRD: CAMEROON
PARTICIPANTS: 8 TEAMS
GOALS SCORED: 53 (3.31 PER MATCH)
TOP SCORER: MALI’S FANTAMADY KEITA (5 GOALS)
BEST PLAYER: REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO’S FRANÇOIS M’PELÉ
1974 AFCON CHAMPIONS: ZAIRE
HOST COUNTRY: EGYPT
DATES: 1–14 MARCH 1974
RUNNERS-UP: ZAMBIA
THIRD: EGYPT
PARTICIPANTS: 8 TEAMS
GOALS SCORED: 54 (3.18 PER MATCH)
TOP SCORER: ZAIRE NDAYE MULAMBA (9 GOALS)
BEST PLAYER: ZAIRE NDAYE MULAMBA
1976 AFCON CHAMPIONS: MOROCCO
HOST COUNTRY: ETHIOPIA
DATES: 29 FEBRUARY – 14 MARCH 1976
RUNNERS-UP: GUINEA
THIRD: NIGER
PARTICIPANTS: 8 TEAMS
GOALS SCORED: 54 (3 PER MATCH)
TOP SCORER: GUINEA’S MAMADOU ALIOU KEÏTA (4 GOALS)
BEST PLAYER: MOROCCO’S AHMED FARAS
AFCON 1978 CHAMPIONS: GHANA
HOST COUNTRY: GHANA
DATES: 5–16 MARCH 1978
RUNNERS-UP: UGANDA
THIRD: NIGERIA
PARTICIPANTS: 8 TEAMS
GOALS SCORED: 38 (2.38 PER MATCH)
TOP SCORERS: GHANA’S OPOKU AFRIYIE (3 GOALS), NIGERIA’S SEGUN ODEGBAMI (3 GOALS) & UGANDA’S PHILLIP OMONDI (3 GOALS)
BEST PLAYER: GHANA’S ABDUL RAZAK
1980 AFCON CHAMPIONS: NIGERIA
HOST COUNTRY: NIGERIA
DATES: 8−22 MARCH 1980
RUNNERS-UP: ALGERIA
THIRD: MOROCCO
PARTICIPANTS: 8 TEAMS
GOALS SCORED: 33 (2.06 PER MATCH)
TOP SCORERS: MOROCCO’S KHALED LABIED (3 GOALS) & NIGERIA’S SEGUN ODEGBAMI (3 GOALS)
BEST PLAYER: NIGERIA’S CHRISTIAN CHUKWU
AFCON 1982 CHAMPIONS: GHANA
HOST COUNTRY: LIBYA
DATES: 5−19 MARCH 1982
RUNNERS-UP: LIBYA
THIRD: ZAMBIA
PARTICIPANTS: 8 TEAMS
GOALS SCORED: 32 (2 PER MATCH)
TOP SCORER: GHANA’S GEORGE ALHASSAN (4 GOALS)
BEST PLAYER: LIBYA’S FAWZI AL-ISSAWI
1984 AFCON CHAMPIONS: CAMEROON
HOST COUNTRY: IVORY COAST
DATES: 4–18 MARCH 1984
RUNNERS-UP: NIGERIA
THIRD: ALGERIA
PARTICIPANTS: 8 TEAMS
GOALS SCORED: 39 (2.44 PER MATCH)
TOP SCORER: EGYPT’S TAHER ABOUZAID (4 GOALS)
BEST PLAYER: CAMEROON’S THÉOPHILE ABEGA
BEST GOALKEEPER: CAMEROON’S JOSEPH-ANTOINE BELL
AFCON 1986 CHAMPIONS: EGYPT
HOST COUNTRY: EGYPT
DATES: 7–21 MARCH 1986
RUNNERS-UP: CAMEROON
THIRD: IVORY COAST
PARTICIPANTS: 8 TEAMS
GOALS SCORED: 31 (1.94 PER MATCH)
TOP SCORER: CAMEROON’S ROGER MILLA (4 GOALS)
BEST PLAYER: CAMEROON’S ROGER MILLA
AFCON 1988 CHAMPIONS: CAMEROON
HOST COUNTRY: MOROCCO
DATES: 13–27 MARCH 1988
RUNNERS-UP: NIGERIA
THIRD: ALGERIA
PARTICIPANTS: 8 TEAMS
GOALS SCORED: 23 (1.44 PER MATCH)
TOP SCORERS: ALGERIA’S LAKHDAR BELLOUMI (2 GOALS), CAMEROON’S ROGER MILLA (2 GOALS), EGYPT’S GAMAL ABDELHAMID (2 GOALS) & IVORY COAST’S ABDOULAYE TRAORÉ (2 GOALS)
BEST PLAYER: MOROCCO’S AZIZ BOUDERBALA
BEST GOALKEEPER: CAMEROON’S JOSEPH-ANTOINE BELL
1990 AFCON CHAMPIONS: ALGERIA
HOST COUNTRY: ALGERIA
DATES: 2–16 MARCH 1990
RUNNERS-UP: NIGERIA
THIRD: ZAMBIA
PARTICIPANTS: 8 TEAMS
GOALS SCORED: 30 (1.88 PER MATCH)
TOP SCORER: ALGERIA’S DJAMEL MENAD (4 GOALS)
BEST PLAYER: ALGERIA’S RABAH MADJER
AFCON 1992 CHAMPIONS: IVORY COAST
HOST COUNTRY: SENEGAL
DATES: 12–26 JANUARY 1992
RUNNERS-UP: GHANA
THIRD: NIGERIA
PARTICIPANTS: 12 TEAMS
GOALS SCORED: 34 (1.7 PER MATCH)
TOP SCORER: NIGERIA’S RASHIDI YEKINI (4 GOALS)
BEST PLAYER: GHANA’S ABEDI PELE
BEST GOALKEEPER: IVORY COAST’S ALAIN GOUAMÉNÉ
1994 AFCON CHAMPIONS: NIGERIA
HOST COUNTRY: TUNISIA
DATES: 26 MARCH – 10 APRIL 1994
RUNNERS-UP: ZAMBIA
THIRD: IVORY COAST
PARTICIPANTS: 12 TEAMS
GOALS SCORED: 44 (2.2 PER MATCH)
TOP SCORER: NIGERIA’S RASHIDI YEKINI (5 GOALS)
BEST PLAYER: NIGERIA’S RASHIDI YEKINI
AFCON 1996 CHAMPIONS: SOUTH AFRICA
HOST COUNTRY: SOUTH AFRICA
DATES: 13 JANUARY – 3 FEBRUARY 1996
RUNNERS-UP: TUNISIA
THIRD: ZAMBIA
PARTICIPANTS: 15 TEAMS
Goals scored: 78 (2.69 per match)
Top scorer: Zambia’s Kalusha Bwalya (5 goals)
Best player: Zambia’s Kalusha Bwalya
1998 AFCON CHAMPIONS: EGYPT
HOST COUNTRY: BURKINA FASO
DATES: 7–28 FEBRUARY 1998
RUNNERS-UP: SOUTH AFRICA
THIRD: DR CONGO
PARTICIPANTS: 16 TEAMS
GOALS SCORED: 93 (2.91 PER MATCH)
TOP SCORERS: EGYPT’S HOSSAM HASSAN (7 GOALS) & SOUTH AFRICA’S BENNI MCCARTHY (7 GOALS)
BEST PLAYER: SOUTH AFRICA’S BENNI MCCARTHY
AFCON 2000 CHAMPIONS: CAMEROON
HOST COUNTRIES: GHANA AND NIGERIA
DATES: 22 JANUARY – 13 FEBRUARY 2000
RUNNERS-UP: NIGERIA
THIRD: SOUTH AFRICA
PARTICIPANTS: 16 TEAMS
GOALS SCORED: 73 (2.28 PER MATCH)
TOP SCORER: SOUTH AFRICA’S SHAUN BARTLETT (5 GOALS)
BEST PLAYER: CAMEROON’S LAUREN
2002 AFCON CHAMPIONS: CAMEROON
HOST COUNTRY: MALI
DATES: 19 JANUARY – 10 FEBRUARY 2002
RUNNERS-UP: SENEGAL
THIRD: NIGERIA
PARTICIPANTS: 16 TEAMS
GOALS SCORED: 48 (1.5 PER MATCH)
TOP SCORERS: NIGERIA’S JULIUS AGHAHOWA (3 GOALS), CAMEROON’S PATRICK MBOMA (3 GOALS) & CAMEROON’S SALOMON OLEMBÉ (3 GOALS)
BEST PLAYER: CAMEROON’S RIGOBERT SONG
AFCON 2004 CHAMPIONS: TUNISIA
HOST COUNTRY: TUNISIA
DATES: 24 JANUARY – 14 FEBRUARY 2004
RUNNERS-UP: MOROCCO
THIRD: NIGERIA
PARTICIPANTS: 16 TEAMS
GOALS SCORED: 88 (2.75 PER MATCH)
TOP SCORERS: MOROCCO’S YOUSSEF MOKHTARI (4 GOALS), MALI’S FRÉDÉRIC KANOUTÉ (4 GOALS), CAMEROON’S PATRICK MBOMA (4 GOALS), NIGERIA’S JAY-JAY OKOCHA (4 GOALS) & TUNISIA’S FRANCILEUDO SANTOS (4 GOALS)
BEST PLAYER: NIGERIA’S JAY-JAY OKOCHA
2006 AFCON CHAMPIONS: EGYPT
HOST COUNTRY: EGYPT
DATES: 20 JANUARY – 10 FEBRUARY 2006
RUNNERS-UP: IVORY COAST
THIRD: NIGERIA
PARTICIPANTS: 16 TEAMS
GOALS SCORED: 73 (2.28 PER MATCH)
TOP SCORER: CAMEROON’S SAMUEL ETO’O (5 GOALS)
BEST PLAYER: EGYPT’S AHMED HASSAN
AFCON 2008 CHAMPIONS: EGYPT
HOST COUNTRY: GHANA
DATES: 20 JANUARY – 10 FEBRUARY 2008
RUNNERS-UP: CAMEROON
THIRD: GHANA
PARTICIPANTS: 16 TEAMS
GOALS SCORED: 99 (3.09 PER MATCH)
TOP SCORER: CAMEROON’S SAMUEL ETO’O (5 GOALS)
BEST PLAYER: EGYPT’S HOSNY ABD RABO
BEST GOALKEEPER: EGYPT’S ESSAM EL-HADARY
2010 AFCON CHAMPIONS: EGYPT
HOST COUNTRY: ANGOLA
DATES: 10–31 JANUARY 2010
RUNNERS-UP: GHANA
THIRD: NIGERIA
PARTICIPANTS: 16 TEAMS
GOALS SCORED: 71 (2.45 PER MATCH)
TOP SCORER: EGYPT’S GEDO (5 GOALS)
BEST PLAYER: EGYPT’S AHMED HASSAN
BEST GOALKEEPER: EGYPT’S ESSAM EL HADARY
AFCON 2012 CHAMPIONS: ZAMBIA
HOST COUNTRIES: GABON AND EQUATORIAL GUINEA
DATES: 21 JANUARY – 12 FEBRUARY 2012
RUNNERS-UP: IVORY COAST
THIRD: MALI
PARTICIPANTS: 16 TEAMS
GOALS SCORED: 76 (2.38 PER MATCH)
TOP SCORERS: ANGOLA’S MANUCHO (3 GOALS), GABON’S PIERRE-EMERICK AUBAMEYANG (3 GOALS), IVORY COAST’S DIDIER DROGBA (3 GOALS), MALI’S CHEICK DIABATÉ (3 GOALS), MOROCCO’S HOUSSINE KHARJA (3 GOALS), ZAMBIA’S CHRISTOPHER KATONGO (3 GOALS) & ZAMBIA’S EMMANUEL MAYUKA (3 GOALS)
BEST PLAYER: ZAMBIA’S CHRISTOPHER KATONGO
FAIR PLAY AWARD: IVORY COAST
2013 AFCON CHAMPIONS: NIGERIA
In 2013, the tournament format had to be switched and started being held in odd-numbered years so that it wouldn’t interfere with the FIFA World Cup.
HOST COUNTRY: SOUTH AFRICA
DATES: 19 JANUARY – 10 FEBRUARY 2013
RUNNERS-UP: BURKINA FASO
THIRD: MALI
PARTICIPANTS: 16 TEAMS
GOALS SCORED: 69 (2.16 PER MATCH)
TOP SCORERS: NIGERIA’S EMMANUEL EMENIKE (4 GOALS) & GHANA’S MUBARAK WAKASO (4 GOALS)
BEST PLAYER: BURKINA FASO’S JONATHAN PITROIPA
AFCON 2015 CHAMPIONS: IVORY COAST
HOST COUNTRY: EQUATORIAL GUINEA
DATES: 17 JANUARY – 8 FEBRUARY 2015
RUNNERS-UP: GHANA
THIRD: DR CONGO
PARTICIPANTS: 16 TEAMS
GOALS SCORED: 68 (2.13 PER MATCH)
TOP SCORERS: TUNISIA’S AHMED AKAÏCHI (3 GOALS), GHANA’S ANDRÉ AYEW (3 GOALS), EQUATORIAL GUINEA’S JAVIER BALBOA (3 GOALS), REPUBLIC OF CONGO’S THIEVY BIFOUMA (3 GOALS) & DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO’S DIEUMERCI MBOKANI (3 GOALS)
BEST PLAYER: GHANA’S CHRISTIAN ATSU
BEST GOALKEEPER: IVORY COAST’S SYLVAIN GBOHOUO
FAIR PLAY AWARD: DR CONGO
2017 AFCON CHAMPIONS: CAMEROON
HOST COUNTRY: GABON
DATES: 14 JANUARY – 5 FEBRUARY 2017
RUNNERS-UP: EGYPT
THIRD: BURKINA FASO
PARTICIPANTS: 16 TEAMS
GOALS SCORED: 66 (2.06 PER MATCH)
TOP SCORER: DR CONGO’S JUNIOR KABANANGA (3 GOALS)
BEST PLAYER: CAMEROON’S CHRISTIAN BASSOGOG
FAIR PLAY AWARD: EGYPT
AFCON 2019 CHAMPIONS: ALGERIA
HOST COUNTRY: EGYPT
DATES: 21 JUNE – 19 JULY 2019
RUNNERS-UP: SENEGAL
THIRD: NIGERIA
PARTICIPANTS: 24 TEAMS
GOALS SCORED: 102 (1.96 PER MATCH)
TOP SCORER: NIGERIA’S ODION IGHALO (5 GOALS)
BEST PLAYER: ALGERIA’S ISMAËL BENNACER
BEST YOUNG PLAYER: SENEGAL’S KRÉPIN DIATTA
BEST GOALKEEPER: ALGERIA’S RAÏS M’BOLHI
FAIR PLAY AWARD: SENEGAL
2021 AFCON CHAMPIONS: SENEGAL
HOST COUNTRY: CAMEROON
DATES: 9 JANUARY – 6 FEBRUARY 2022
RUNNERS-UP: EGYPT
THIRD PLACE: CAMEROON
FOURTH PLACE: BURKINA FASO
PARTICIPANTS: 24 TEAMS
GOALS SCORED: 100 (1.92 PER MATCH)
TOP SCORER: CAMEROON’S VINCENT ABOUBAKAR (8 GOALS)
BEST PLAYER: SENEGAL’S SADIO MANÉ
BEST YOUNG PLAYER: BURKINA FASO’S ISSA KABORÉ
BEST GOALKEEPER: SENEGAL’S ÉDOUARD MENDY
FAIR PLAY AWARD: SENEGAL
Past African Nations Cup Winners
Those are so far the African Cup of Nations trophy winners. Egypt are the most successful team in AFCON history, winning the tournament seven times as well as an unprecedented three consecutive titles in 2006, 2008, and 2010.
