Nations · Continental A Winzap guide

Africa Cup of Nations

Africa's continental championship. The 2025 final is still in dispute at the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

First held 1957
15 editions listed
Reigning: Morocco
Every two years (CAF plans a four-year cycle)

Overview

The Africa Cup of Nations, AFCON, has been played since 1957. Egypt have won it a record seven times. In January 2026 Senegal beat Morocco 1-0 after extra time in the final, but CAF later ruled that Senegal forfeited the match and awarded Morocco a 3-0 win; Senegal appealed to CAS.

Egypt, Cameroon and Ghana have been the most successful teams. Ivory Coast won in 2015 and again in 2023 (played in January 2024 on home soil), beating Nigeria 2-1 in the final.

The 2025 edition, in Morocco, ended in controversy. Senegal won the final on the pitch on 18 January 2026 after Pape Gueye scored in extra time, but only after their players walked off for about 15 minutes after a stoppage-time penalty was awarded to Morocco; Brahim Diaz's penalty was saved by Edouard Mendy. On 17 March 2026 the CAF Appeal Board ruled that Senegal had forfeited the match and recorded a 3-0 win for Morocco. Senegal appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, which heard the case on 8 October 2026; no verdict had been published at the time of writing.

How it works

The finals have 24 teams in six groups, followed by a round of 16, quarter-finals, semi-finals and the final. CAF has announced plans to move to a four-year cycle.

Who has won it most?

Titles won by each team across the 15 editions listed here.

Egypt 4 titles

2010, 2008, 2006, 1998
Cameroon 3 titles

2017, 2002, 2000
Ivory Coast 2 titles

2023, 2015
Tunisia 1 title

2004
Zambia 1 title

2012
Nigeria 1 title

2013
Algeria 1 title

2019
Senegal 1 title

2021
Morocco 1 title

2025

Winners by year

Newest first.

Year	Winner	Runner-up	Host / final	Result
2025	Morocco	Senegal	Morocco	3-0 by forfeit (Senegal won 1-0 aet on the pitch)Official record after the CAF Appeal Board ruling of 17 March 2026. Senegal appealed to CAS, which heard the case on 8 October 2026; no verdict yet.
2023	Ivory Coast	Nigeria	Ivory Coast	2-1Played in January and February 2024
2021	Senegal	Egypt	Cameroon	0-0 aet, 4-2 on penaltiesPlayed in January and February 2022
2019	Algeria	Senegal	Egypt	1-0
2017	Cameroon	Egypt	Gabon	2-1
2015	Ivory Coast	Ghana	Equatorial Guinea	0-0 aet, 9-8 on penalties
2013	Nigeria	Burkina Faso	South Africa	1-0
2012	Zambia	Ivory Coast	Equatorial Guinea and Gabon	0-0 aet, 8-7 on penalties
2010	Egypt	Ghana	Angola	1-0
2008	Egypt	Cameroon	Ghana	1-0
2006	Egypt	Ivory Coast	Egypt	0-0 aet, 4-2 on penalties
2004	Tunisia	Morocco	Tunisia	2-1
2002	Cameroon	Senegal	Mali	0-0 aet, 3-2 on penalties
2000	Cameroon	Nigeria	Ghana and Nigeria	2-2 aet, 4-3 on penalties
1998	Egypt	South Africa	Burkina Faso	2-0

Records & facts

Most titles: Egypt, 7
2025 final on the pitch: Senegal 1-0 Morocco (aet), 18 January 2026
2025 final, official record: Morocco 3-0 by forfeit (CAF Appeal Board, 17 March 2026); appeal pending at CAS
Editions listed here: 1998 to 2025