Complete History of AFCON Champions from 1957 to 2026

Overview of AFCON Champions Through the Years

Since the African Cup of Nations began in 1957, over a dozen nations have lifted the trophy. This article details every winner from the tournament's start up to 2026, highlighting the teams with the most titles and notable moments.

AFCON Winners by Number of Titles and Years Won

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

Highlighting the Most Successful Teams

Egypt leads the pack with seven AFCON trophies. They won the inaugural tournament in 1957 and defended it in 1959. The Pharaohs also achieved a rare three-peat by winning consecutively in 2006, 2008, and 2010, marking them as the continent’s most decorated team.

Cameroon follows with five titles, starting their success in 1984. They secured back-to-back victories in 2000 and 2002 and last lifted the trophy in 2017 after beating Egypt 2-1 in the final. Since then, Cameroon has not reached another final but remains a top contender.

Ghana holds four championships, dominating primarily during the 1960s through the early 1980s. Their first triumph was in 1963 when they won 3-0 against Sudan. Despite coming close to a fifth title in 2015, finishing runners-up, Ghana remains one of Africa's strongest football nations.

Other Notable Champions

• Nigeria has claimed three titles, with victories in 1980, 1994, and 2013. Their first win was a 3-0 final against Algeria.
• Ivory Coast also has three titles, notably winning dramatic penalty shootouts against Ghana in 1992 and 2015, and securing the latest trophy on home soil in 2023.
• Algeria earned their two championships in 1990 and 2019, each time edging out strong opponents like Nigeria and Senegal with narrow victories.
• DR Congo took home two titles in the late 1960s and 1970s, winning once after a replayed final match.
• Senegal rose recently with two titles, first in 2021 via penalties and again in 2026 with a tight 1-0 win over Morocco, led by Sadio Mane’s performances.

Teams with Single AFCON Titles

• Zambia triumphed in 2012, defeating Ivory Coast on penalties after previous near misses in finals.
• Tunisia won their sole title in 2004, beating Morocco 2-1.
• Sudan took the championship in 1970 after being runners-up twice before.
• South Africa captured their only title in 1996 at home, defeating Tunisia 2-0.
• Ethiopia won in 1962 in a high-scoring final that went into extra time.
• Morocco claimed victory in 1976 against Guinea.
• Congo won their lone title in 1972, prevailing in a goal-filled final against Mali.

Summary of AFCON Champions

• Total champion nations: 15
• Most titles: Egypt (7)
• Recent champions: Ivory Coast (2023), Senegal (2026)
• Longest winning streak: Egypt’s three consecutive titles (2006–2010)

Frequently Asked Questions

• Who has won the most AFCON titles? Egypt leads with 7 titles.
• How many times has Senegal won AFCON? Senegal has won twice, in 2021 and 2026.
• Which nation holds five AFCON titles? Cameroon has 5 titles.
• How many AFCON wins does Ghana have? Ghana has 4 titles.
• Who won the very first AFCON? Egypt won the first tournament in 1957.
• Who are the current champions as of 2026? Ivory Coast were the winners in 2023; Senegal won in 2026.
• How many teams have ever won AFCON? Fifteen different countries have been crowned champions.