5 Countries with Intense Rivalries Ahead of 2023 Africa Cup of Nations

An unparalleled continental tournament, the African Cup of Nations stands out with its distinctive blend of history, geographic proximity, and the pursuit of footballing supremacy, giving rise to intense rivalries.

These rivalries not only infuse a unique intensity on the field but also amplify the emotions of joy and disappointment among fans.

In this edition, Sports Brief explores some of the defining rivalries in the AFCON.

Countries with intense rivalries at AFCON

Ghana vs Nigeria

Dating back to pre-independence times, Ghana and Nigeria's football clash has seen Ghana win 4 of their 13 encounters, compared to Nigeria's 3 victories.

Despite often being group fixtures (7 meetings in total), the games carry significant weight due to the regional rivalry driven by socioeconomic conditions.

In knockout clashes, Ghana holds a 3-1 advantage, a trend accentuated in recent years with the decline of the Super Eagles.

Egypt vs Algeria

One of football's most infamous rivalries, the clash between these Northern African giants runs deep.

From Algeria's resentment over Egypt's refusal to play a team promoting awareness of Algeria's struggle for independence to the 1989 incident where the Egyptian team doctor lost an eye from a thrown bottle by an Algerian player, and multiple fan clashes, it stands as one of international football's ugliest rivalries.

Surprisingly, Egypt, the most successful AFCON team, has a dismal record against their bitter rivals, winning only 2 and losing 5 of their 9 clashes.

However, in their most recent encounter, Egypt dominated, securing a 4-0 victory on their way to the title.

A complete profile of Nigeria's national football team, what have they achieved?

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Ghana vs Ivory Coast

Ghana and Ivory Coast, football powerhouses and neighbours, boast a riveting rivalry with 14 Cup of Nations encounters. Ivory Coast leads with 8 wins, while Ghana has 5.

After winning the first three clashes, Ghana struggled for six matches, including a 1992 final loss in a dramatic 11-10 penalty shootout.

Abedi Pele's goal ended a 26-year winless streak for Ghana in 1996. In the 2015 final, echoing 1992, a 0-0 scoreline led to Ivory Coast's 9-8 penalty victory. Currently, the rivalry tilts in favour of Ivory Coast

Nigeria vs. Cameroon

Despite a recent decline in both teams' African football standing, Cameroon and Nigeria share a historic Cup of Nations rivalry. Their first encounter was in the 1984 final, where Cameroon, led by Roger Milla, secured their inaugural AFCON title with a 3-1 victory.

In 1988, Cameroon defeated Nigeria 1-0 in the final, clinching their second title. Nigeria found solace in the 1992 clash, securing third place in the tournament.

The rivalry intensified in 2000, with Cameroon and Nigeria facing off in the final. The match ended 2-2 in extra time, and Cameroon secured their third Cup of Nations title with a 4-3 victory in a tense penalty shootout. The significance of these victories was not lost, as Cameroon triumphed against Nigeria in all three of their AFCON final encounters.

In the 2004 quarterfinals, Nigeria managed to defeat Cameroon, offering some consolation, but they ultimately settled for a third-place finish.

Ivory Coast vs. Senegal

Despite only meeting four times in the 60-year history of the Cup of Nations, Ivory Coast and Senegal developed a spirited rivalry through numerous friendlies and World Cup qualifiers.

The narrative centered on Ivory Coast's footballing dominance, with Senegal striving for breakthroughs. Les Elephants won all four encounters, losing only one competitive game to Senegal, though they did suffer defeats in six international friendlies.

Ghana vs Egypt headline big games at group stage

Earlier, Sports Brief reported that the eagerly anticipated Africa Cup of Nations is just around the corner, with less than a week remaining before the tournament kicks off.

Ivory Coast is poised to host 23 other nations as they embark on the quest for a new African champion, commencing on Saturday, January 13, 2024, in Abidjan.