AFCON 2023
AFCON: winners, records, goals, appearances, players, coaches...
The 2023 African Cup of Nations is expected to bring plenty of excitement and surprises, and we wanted to look back over the history of the competition.
Ahead of the 34th edition of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), a continental championship that has been a fixture in African football since 1957, we dive into the records that have shaped this storied tournament. Here’s a breakdown of the most notable records and achievements over the years, with a spattering of further insights from those guys at OptaJoe.
In AFCON history, which team has...
...won the most titles?
Leading the pack with the most AFCON titles is Egypt, a dominant force in African football. The Pharaohs have clinched the championship a record seven times in the years 1957, 1959, 1986, 1998, 2006, 2008, and 2010.
...made the most appearances in a final?
Egypt again tops the chart with the most appearances in AFCON finals. Their ten appearances in 1957, 1959, 1962, 1986, 1998, 2006, 2008, 2010, 2017, and 2021 underline their consistent performance in the tournament.
...made the most appearances at the finals tournament?
Continuing their dominance, Egypt has the most appearances in the finals tournament, having participated 26 times from 1957 to 2023.
...played the most games at the finals tournament?
Egypt has played a staggering 107 games at the finals tournament, further solidifying their status as a powerhouse in African football.
...had the most wins at the finals tournament?
The Pharaohs also lead in the most wins at the finals tournament with 60 victories, showcasing their winning mentality.
...scored the most goals at the finals tournament?
In terms of goal-scoring prowess, Egypt has netted 168 goals in the tournament, the highest by any team.
...has made the most successive appearances at the finals tournament?
Tunisia holds the record for the most successive appearances at the finals tournament, having participated in every edition from 1994 to 2023.
In AFCON history, which player has...
...the most tournament appearances?
The record for the most tournament appearances by a player is shared by four football icons: Rigobert Song (Cameroon), Ahmed Hassan (Egypt), Dede Ayew (Ghana), and Youssef Msakni (Tunisia), each with eight appearances.
...the most matches played at the finals tournament?
Rigobert Song of Cameroon holds the record for the most matches played at the finals tournament, with 36 appearances.
...the most appearances in a final?
Egyptian footballer Ahmed Hassan has the most appearances in a final match, playing in four finals - 1998, 2006, 2008, and 2010.
...the most tournament goals?
Cameroonian legend Samuel Eto’o holds the record for the most goals in the tournament, having scored 17 times across five editions.
...the most goals scored in a single tournament?
Mulumba Ndaye of Zaire set the record for most goals in a single tournament, scoring nine goals in 1974.
...the most goals scored in a match?
Laurent Pokou of Cote d’Ivoire scored five goals in a match against Ethiopia in 1970, the most by a player in a single match.
...scored the fastest goal?
Ayman Mansour of Egypt scored the fastest goal in the tournament’s history, finding the net in just 23 seconds against Gabon in 1994.
In AFCON history...
...which game had the most goals?
The highest-scoring match in the tournament’s history was between Egypt and Nigeria in 1963, with Egypt winning 6-3.
...what was the highest winning margin?
Ivory Coast in 1970 against Ethiopia and Guinea in 2012 against Botswana, both recorded a winning margin of 5 goals in their respective matches.
...who was the most experienced referee?
Komlan Coulibaly of Mali is the most experienced referee, having officiated in eight tournaments from 2002 to 2015.
...who has won as a player and coach?
Mahmoud Al Gohari of Egypt and Stephen Keshi of Nigeria have both won the tournament as a player and as a coach, a rare and remarkable achievement.
...who is the coach with the most titles?
Charles Gyamfi of Ghana and Hassan Shehata of Egypt are the coaches with the most titles, each having won three championships.
...who is the coach with the most tournament appearances?
Claude LeRoy has the most tournament appearances as a coach, leading teams in nine editions, and his 38 matches also set a record.
...which nation has hosted the most tournaments?
Egypt has hosted the tournament four times, in 1959, 1974, 1986, 2006, and 2019, more than any other country.
As the 34th edition of the Africa Cup of Nations kicks off, these records highlight the rich history and competitive spirit that define this prestigious tournament in African football.