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Complete List of AFCON Champions from 1957 to 2026

Since the African Cup of Nations began in 1957, over a dozen countries have lifted the trophy. The tournament has evolved alongside global football, with different nations rising to prominence at various times. Egypt started strong with early dominance, but Cameroon and others have challenged their supremacy. By 2026, fifteen teams have won the AFCON, including Senegal, who secured their second title after defeating Morocco 1-0 in the 2025-26 final held in Rabat.

AFCON Champions from 1957 Onwards

  • Egypt: 7 titles (1957, 1959, 1986, 1998, 2006, 2008, 2010) - Venues include Municipal Stadium, Prince Farouk Stadium, Stade du 4-Aout, Ohene Djan Stadium
  • Cameroon: 5 titles (1984, 1988, 2000, 2002, 2017) - Venues include Stade Felix Houphouet-Boigny, Stade Mohamed V, Stade du 26 Mars, Stade de I'Amitie
  • Ghana: 4 titles (1963, 1965, 1978, 1982) - Venues include Stade du 11-Juin, Accra Sports Stadium, Chedly Zouiten Stadium
  • Nigeria: 3 titles (1980, 1994, 2013) - Venues include FNB, Stade El Menzah, National Stadium Lagos
  • Ivory Coast: 3 titles (1992, 2015, 2023) - Venues include Stade de I'Amitie, Estadio de Bata, Alassane Ouattara Stadium
  • Algeria: 2 titles (1990, 2019) - Venues include Cairo International Stadium, Stade 5 Juillet 1962
  • DR Congo: 2 titles (1968, 1974) - Venues include Nasser Stadium, Addis Ababa Stadium
  • Senegal: 2 titles (2021, 2026) - Venues include 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

Notable Champions and Their Stories

Egypt (7 Titles)

The Egyptian national team, known as the Pharaohs, is the most decorated in AFCON history. They won the inaugural tournament in 1957 and repeated in 1959. Egypt achieved a remarkable three consecutive wins in 2006, 2008, and 2010, cementing their legacy.

Cameroon (5 Titles)

Following Egypt, Cameroon’s Indomitable Lions have claimed five titles. Their first triumph came in 1984, followed by back-to-back wins in 2000 and 2002. Their latest victory was in 2017, defeating Egypt 2-1. Since then, they have not reached another final but remain Egypt’s closest rival in AFCON success.

Ghana (4 Titles)

Ghana secured four championships between the 1960s and 1980s. Their first win was in 1963 on home soil with a 3-0 victory over Sudan. Although Ghana nearly added a fifth title in 2015, finishing as runners-up, they have long been among Africa’s strongest sides.

Nigeria (3 Titles)

The Super Eagles captured their first AFCON in 1980 by beating Algeria 3-0. Subsequent titles came in 1994 and 2013, the latter with a narrow 1-0 win against Burkina Faso. Nigeria remains a consistent force in the competition.

Ivory Coast (3 Titles)

Ivory Coast has won three trophies. Their initial title arrived in 1992 after a dramatic 11-10 penalty shootout against Ghana. They repeated a penalty shootout win against Ghana in 2015 (9-8) and secured their latest championship on home ground in 2023.

Algeria (2 Titles)

Algeria first triumphed in 1990 with a decisive goal against Nigeria. They were runners-up in 1980 but clinched their second title in 2019 by edging Senegal 1-0. Algeria has had a strong presence in recent tournaments.

DR Congo (2 Titles)

DR Congo won the AFCON twice, first in 1968 with a winning goal from Kalala, then again in 1974 decided by a replay. They have appeared in over 20 editions and earned third place finishes in 1998 and 2015.

Senegal (2 Titles)

Senegal’s rise culminated in two AFCON titles: the first in 2021 after winning a penalty shootout, and the second in 2026 with a 1-0 win over Morocco. Before these victories, they experienced heartbreak as runners-up in 2002 and 2019. Hosting the tournament in 1992, Senegal has established itself among Africa’s top teams.

Other Single Title Winners

  • Zambia: Won once in 2012, beating Ivory Coast on penalties (8-7). They have also been runners-up twice.
  • Tunisia: Claimed the title in 2004 with a 2-1 win over Morocco, having been runners-up previously.
  • Sudan: Took their sole title in 1970, after earlier close calls as runners-up.
  • South Africa: Won their only title in 1996 with a 2-0 final victory over Tunisia.
  • Ethiopia: Secured their lone championship in 1962 following an intense final match.
  • Morocco: Won in 1976 by defeating Guinea, despite some tough moments in later tournaments.
  • Congo: Triumphed in 1972, winning their only final appearance with a high-scoring match.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Who has won the most AFCON titles? Egypt leads with 7 titles.
  • How many AFCON titles does Senegal have? Senegal has won 2 titles as of 2026.
  • How many times has Cameroon won the AFCON? Cameroon has 5 titles.
  • What about Ghana’s AFCON record? Ghana has won 4 titles.
  • Who won the first-ever AFCON? Egypt won the inaugural tournament in 1957.
  • Which country won the most recent AFCON? Ivory Coast won the 2023 edition.
  • How many teams have won the AFCON so far? Fifteen teams have lifted the trophy by 2026.

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