The African Nations Cup started officially on the 10th of February 1957, in the national stadium of Khartoum. But its idea dates back to the 8th of June 1956 when AbdelAziz Abdallah Salem and Mohamed Latif from Egypt, Abdel Halim Shaddaad, Badawy Mohamed and Abdelhalim Mohamed from Sudan, and Fred Will from South Africa met in Avenida hotel in Portugal, to discuss the idea of the formation of an African Union and launching a competition between the different countries of the continent.

The founding organization was held 8 months later in Grand Hotel in Khartoum, 2 days before the opening match between Egypt and Sudan.

Hereinafter is the history of the championship since its first launch in 1957:

1957 ,1959 ,1962 ,1963 ,1965 ,1968 ,1970 ,1972 ,
1974 ,1976, 1978 ,1980 ,1982 ,1984 ,1986 ,1988
1990 , 1992 , 1994 , 1996 ,1998 , 2000 ,2002 , 2004 ,2006,2008


Sudan, 1957
Egypt, Sudan and Ethiopia have participated in the first tournament. South Africa was banned after the refusal of sending a mixed team (not based on a racist color) to Sudan, in which the competition was held.


Egypt, 1959

Two years later, Egypt succeeded to win the trophy for the second time on her own land, being led by the inside left, Mahmoud El Gohary. The same three members were participating in this one. The sixties were a shining period for the CAF (African Federation of Football), and also in this decade, the Nations Cup hugely progressed and developed.

Ethiopia, 1962

Ethiopia has held the third tournament that witnessed the participation of new countries for the first time as Tunisia and Uganda. The Ethiopians proved their strength and stamina, and they reached the final match against Egypt. The match reached a draw of 2-2 in the end of the 90 minutes. And for the first time in the history of this tournament, an extra time was played. The hosting country won it 4-2 at the end.

Ghana, 1963

Ghana got their first trophy in that year. They were trained by the famous trainer Charles Giamphy. The “Black Stars” have shined to win 3-0 over Sudan in the final match of the competition held in Accra, the Capital of Ghana.

Tunisia 1965

In this year, Ghana succeeded to defend their title in Tunisia, by winning 3-1 over the hosting country, after the match has gone to an extra time. The winning team contained 2 players only from those who won the previous competition in 1963.

Ethiopia 1968

As a sign of increasingly popularity of the game in the dark continent, 8 teams participated in this tournament held in Ethiopia after playing qualifying matches. Congo Kinshasa reached the final against Ghana. The player Pierre Calala scored the winning goal. Loran Boko, the Ivory Coast player has scored 6 goals, as to say 2 goals less than the previous competition.

Sudan 1970

In 1970's tournament held in Sudan, the first television coverage of this tournament was ever organized. Zaire, the title defenders, was secluded from the first round. Ghana reached the final match for a fourth consecutive time. But this time they lost against Sudan, by the goal scored from the Sudanese attacker, El_Sayed, who gifted his country the only cup they have ever won in their history.

Cameroon 1972

Cameroon held this tournament in 1972 and reached the semi-final. But against all odds, they lost surprisingly from Congo, who won this trophy by a stunning victory over Mali 3-2

Egypt, 1974

In 1974, Egypt hosted the competition. And Zaire won it. The Zaire's player Pierre Nday scored 9 goals that helped his country to reach the final. And for the first time in the history of the tournament, the final match has been re-played due to a draw 2-2 in the first match. Pierre Nday scored twice in the second match to help Zaire win it. And his mates got back to Zaire their president's plane, Moboto Sisisiko.

Ethiopia 1976

The 1976 competition was held in Ethiopia. And for the first time it was held by the system of league groups, then knockout.

Ghana 1978

Ghana hosted the tournament, and they won 2-0 over Uganda in the final match to be the first country to win the trophy three times and keep it forever.

Nigeria 1980

In 1980, Nigeria was on a date with their first trophy since the beginning of the African Nations Cup. They succeeded to win the competition that was held at their home land, lead by they legendary scorer Sigon Odigbamy, by winning over Algeria in the final match 3-0.

Libya 1982

In 1982, the competition was held in Libya on artificial play courts. The Libyans benefited playing on their ground and the home factor by reaching the final match, but they lost against Ghana 7-6 who won their fourth title.

Ivory Coast 1984

In the next competition held in Ivory Coast, the title defenders left the tournament early while Cameroon beated Nigeria 2-0 in the final match, giving the lions their first African trophy.

Egypt 1986

In 1986, Egypt hosted the tournament, and they succeeded to overcome their loss in the opening match of the competition against Senegal by a single goal, to reach the final match. And after a superb match against Cameroon in the final, they succeeded to win 5-4 by penalties to regain the title they first won 30 years ago.

Morocco 1988

Football fans from Morocco were on a date with 1988 competition held on their homeland. Morocco did succeed to reach the semi final. Algeria did also reach the semi final, but both Arabic teams were defeated by Cameroon and Nigeria. This time Cameroon won 1-0 from a penalty kick by Emmanuelle Condi, who gave his country the second African trophy.

Algeria 1990

The first tournament held in the nineties was in Algeria, who succeeded to get benefit from the home factor to win their first trophy by beating Nigeria in the final match by a single goal.

Senegal 1992

In 1992, the tournament was held in Senegal, by a participation of 12 teams. Ivory Coast managed to win their first trophy after defeating Ghana in the final match 11-10 in penalty kicks after an exciting match.

Tunisia 1994

Tunisia, the hosts of this competition, left the tournament from the first round in a humiliating way. Zambia was the surprise of this tournament but they lost in the final match 2-1 from the Nigerian eagles.

South Africa 1996

The 1996 Nations Cup organized by South Africa witnessed Nigeria withdrawal for political reasons. South Africans got their first trophy by winning over Tunisia 2-0 in the final match.

Burkina Faso 1998

Egypt was on a date with the fourth cup. Both Hossam Hassan and Benny McCarthy couldn't score a goal in the final match played by the Egyptian and the South African team, after both leading goal scorers got a tie with 7 goals each in this tournament. Egypt won 2-0 in the final match, and Mahmoud el Gohary was the first person to win this trophy as a player and a coach.

Nigeria 2000

Cameroon won their first trophy in the new millennium after a breath taking match against Nigeria, the hosting country. Full time result was 2-2, and Cameroon succeeded to win it by penalties.

Mali 2002

Again, Cameroon won this time by penalties over Senegal, in the competition held in Mali.

Tunisia 2004

Again, Tunisia won this time on her own land.
The Participated countries were:

Tunisia, Guinea, Congo, Mali, Senegal, Kenya, Burkina Faso, Cameron, Algeria, Egypt, Zimbabwe, Morocco, Nigeria, South Africa, Benin.

Egypt 2006

Egypt won the championship held in its own land.
The participated countries were Namibia, Ivory Coast, Mali, Nigeria, Cameron, Ghana, Senegal, the Sudan, Morocco, Angola, Benin, Tunisia, South Africa, Zambia, and Egypt.

Ghana, 2008

Egypt won the championship held in the land of Ghana.
The participated countries were Ghana, Morocco, Namibia, Ivory Coast, Nigeria, Mali, Benin, Egypt, Cameron, Zambia, the Sudan, Tunisia, Angola, Senegal, and South Africa.