Most AFCON Wins: Egypt Top List With 7 Championships, Cameroon in 2nd With 5 Titles

• Egypt has won the most Africa Cup of Nations titles, with seven
• They won the championship in 1957, 1959, 1986, 1998, 2006, 2008, and 2010
• Cameroon and Ghana have won five and four AFCON titles, respectively

The 2023 Africa Cup of Nations is finally here.

Since the inaugural competition in 1957, the AFCON has produced 15 different champions in 33 editions.

Sports Brief looks at the teams with the most AFCON titles ahead of this year’s tournament in Ivory Coast.

Countries with the most AFCON championships

Egypt (7 titles)

The Egyptians hold the record for the most AFCON titles in the history of the event, with seven, per BEIN Sports.

They first captured the championship in 1957, beating Ethiopia 4-0 in Sudan. Ad-Diba starred for Egypt in that final, scoring all four of Egypt’s goals.

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They successfully defended their AFCON title in 1959, beating Sudan 2-1. They participated in that tournament as the United Arab Republic.

The Pharaohs captured their third AFCON title at home in 1986, beating Cameroon 5-4 in a penalty shootout after both sides failed to score during regulation and extra time.

Egypt lifted their fourth AFCON championship in 1998, defeating South Africa 2-0 in the final in Burkina Faso.

They then won three titles in a row from 2006 to 2010 to stretch their championship tally to seven.

Egypt defeated Ivory Coast 4-2 via penalties in the 2006 final.

They then edged past Cameroon 1-0 in the 2008 final, with Mohamed Aboutrika scoring the match-winner.

Egypt recorded a 1-0 victory over Ghana in the 2010 final with Gedo scoring the game’s lone goal in the 85th minute.

Cameroon (5 titles)

Cameroon won their first AFCON title in 1984, beating Nigeria 3-1 in the final in Ivory Coast. They battled back from an early 1-0 deficit, with Rene Brice N’Djeya, Theophile Abega, and Ernest Ebongue scoring the goals for Cameroon.

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They waited just four years to claim their second championship, with Cameroon recording a 1-0 victory over Nigeria in the 1988 final in Morocco.

Emmanuel Kunde starred for the Indomitable Lions in the final, scoring the game’s lone goal in the 55th minute.

Cameroon then won back-to-back titles in 2000 and 2002 to stretch their championship tally to four.

They defeated Nigeria 4-3 via penalties in the 2000 final after both teams scored two goals apiece in regulation and extra time.

Cameroon then beat Senegal 3-2 in a penalty shootout in the 2002 final.

Cameroon’s fifth AFCON championship came in 2017 when they beat Egypt 2-1 in the final.

Cameroon battled back after Elneny gave Egypt a 1-0 lead in the 22nd minute. Nicolas Nkoulou equalised for the Lions in the 59th minute before Vincent Aboubakar scored a dramatic match-winner for Cameroon in the 88th minute.

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Ghana (4 titles)

Ghana first won the AFCON title in 1963, capturing the championship in front of their home fans.

They defeated Sudan 3-0 in the final, with Edward Aggrey-Fynn and Edward Acquah scoring the goals for Ghana in the second half.

They successfully defended their title in 1965, beating Tunisia 3-2 in added extra time in the final.

Frank Odoi sent Ghanaian fans into a frenzy, scoring the match-winner in the 96th minute.

The Black Stars waited 13 years to win their third championship, taking home the crown in 1978.

They defeated Uganda 2-0 in the final thanks to a brace from Opoku Afriyie.

Ghana’s last AFCON championship came in 1982 when they defeated Libya in a dramatic final.

The Black Stars needed a penalty shootout to defeat the host nation, with Ghana prevailing 7-6 via spot kicks.

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The Africa Cup of Nations and the Asian Cup will both take place from January to February.

Copa America and the European Championship will be staged from June to July.