The Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) is the premier football tournament in Africa, organized under the auspices of the Confederation of African Football (CAF). It is contested by national teams from across the continent, aiming to capture the coveted title. Initially held every two years, the tournament has evolved over time, expanding from just three teams in its inaugural 1957 edition to 24 teams. The increase in participating nations led to the introduction of qualification rounds for all but the host nation starting from 1968. That year also saw the CAF decide to hold the tournament biennially. In 2013, the tournament’s schedule was adjusted to occur during odd years to avoid clashing with the FIFA World Cup.

Origins and Early Years:

The tournament’s origins trace back to 1956 when the establishment of the CAF was proposed during the third FIFA Congress in Lisbon. The inaugural Africa Cup of Nations was held in February 1957 in Khartoum, Sudan, featuring three teams: Egypt, Sudan, and Ethiopia. South Africa, one of the founding members, was excluded due to its insistence on selecting only white players because of its apartheid policies. Egypt won the tournament by defeating the host nation in the semifinals and Ethiopia in the final. The trophy, initially named after the Egyptian donor Abdel Aziz Abdel Salam, was permanently awarded to Ghana in 1978 after it became the first team to win the title three times. The subsequent trophy, known as the African Unity Cup, was permanently awarded to Cameroon in 2000 after their third win. In 2002, a new gold-plated trophy was introduced, designed and crafted in Italy. Cameroon was the first to win this new trophy in 2002. Egypt, having won the title three times, was supposed to keep the original trophy, but instead, they received a full-sized replica.

Evolution of the Tournament

Over the years, the qualification system for AFCON has undergone significant changes. Initially, knockout rounds determined qualifiers until 1992 when a group stage system resembling the European Championship was introduced. Teams were placed into groups, playing home and away matches. The top two teams and the best third-place team from each group advanced to the knockout stages. The tournament now includes 23 teams qualifying through this process, alongside the host nation. They are divided into six groups of four, with the top two and the best third-place teams progressing to the Round of 16. From there, teams advance to the quarter-finals, semi-finals, and ultimately the final. The losing teams in the semi-finals compete for third place.

Impact and Notable Players

AFCON has served as a showcase for African football talent. In the 1950s and 1960s, the tournament’s entertaining and attacking style attracted European scouts, agents, and journalists. Under Ethiopian leadership of Ydnekatchew Tessema, CAF’s president from 1972 until his death in 1987, the tournament gained international prominence. Professionalism was introduced in 1980, and corporate sponsorship was accepted in 1984. Among the greatest players in AFCON history is Cameroon’s Samuel Eto’o, who holds the record for the most goals scored in the tournament with 18. Ivorian Laurent Pokou is also notable for scoring five goals in a single match in 1970. Egypt holds the record for the most titles with seven wins, including three consecutive victories in 2006, 2008, and 2010.

Political and Social Impact

AFCON has also been a platform for expressing political values and ideas. During the era of colonialism, the African national identity was suppressed, prompting independent African governments to invest heavily in national football teams to instill pride and unity among their citizens. For example, Ghana, under its first president Kwame Nkrumah, won the cup in 1963 and 1965. In 1996, South Africa won the tournament hosted on home soil, showcasing its racially integrated team overcoming the social and economic disparities left by apartheid. On the other hand, political tensions have affected the tournament, such as in 2010 when Togolese team members were attacked by separatist gunmen en route to Cabinda, Angola. The attack resulted in the deaths of two team officials and the bus driver, leading to Togo’s withdrawal from the tournament, which continued with 15 teams.

Tournament History Table: