5 Fascinating AFCON Records You Need to Know Ahead of the Tournament in Ivory Coast

• The countdown to the 34th edition of the Africa Cup of Nations is almost underway
• A host of competition records could be set and broken at the tournament in Ivory Coast
• Sports Brief highlights five tournament records you should know ahead of the showpiece

The Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) tournament for many players and teams, remains a competition of dreams.

Since it was first hosted by Sudan in 1957, a plethora of players and teams alike have done well to leave their indelible mark on the football showpiece.

The 34th edition of the Mundial is slated for Ivory Coast, and the buzz and tension leading up to the tournament is indeed palpable.

However, as the competition draws near, Sports Brief highlights five intriguing records from the AFCON that fans should be aware of.

Most AFCON titles won — Egypt

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The Pharaohs of Egypt lead the pack with regard to the teams that have won the most titles, with seven of which three were won consecutively between 2006 and 2010 under legendary manager Hassan Shehata. However, the Pharaohs have not lifted the cup since then.

Closely trailing behind are the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon, who have secured five AFCON titles, with their most recent triumph in 2017. Ghana, boasting four AFCON titles, is also in contention. However, the Black Stars have not tasted glory since their last success in 1982.

Most successful AFCON coaches

Numerous coaches have lifted the prestigious AFCON trophy, but a select few have left an indelible mark. Charles Gyamfi from Ghana and Egypt's Hassan Shehata stand out among them, having guided their respective teams to three titles each, making them the most decorated coaches in the history of the competition.

Gyamfi, who sadly passed away in 2015 at the age of 86, achieved his coaching triumphs in 1963, 1965, and 1982.

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On the flip side, Egypt's Hassan Shehata, overseeing successes from 2006 to 2010, holds a unique distinction as the only coach to have secured the AFCON title in three consecutive tournaments.

No competition debutant

The 34th edition of the AFCON is noteworthy for being the inaugural competition without any debutant teams. Throughout the tournament's history, each edition has featured at least one new entrant.

The 1972 edition, in particular, stands out with the record for the highest number of debutants, as four teams participated for the first time.

AFCON's top scorer

The iconic forward and current Chief of the Cameroon Football Association, Samuel Eto'o, holds the title of the all-time leading goalscorer in AFCON history.

The former Barcelona and Inter Milan star made an unforgettable impact on Africa's biggest football showpiece, netting 18 goals over the course of the six competitions in which he participated.

Most tournament appearances — Player

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At present, the joint record for the most appearances at the AFCON is held by two African football legends: Egypt's Ahmed Hassan and Cameroon's Rigobert Song. These iconic figures have each participated in eight tournaments, spanning from 1996 to 2010.

Nevertheless, the upcoming edition in Ivory Coast is expected to welcome a new entrant to this exclusive club. Ghana's Andre Ayew is on the verge of making his eighth appearance in the competition for his country, as reported by Opta Joe.

South African fans predict AFCON winner

Sports Brief in a previous report highlighted that fans of the Bafana Bafana have predicted their likely AFCON winner.

The fans of the South African national team took to social media to air their thoughts. While a host threw their support behind their country, others appear to favour the Senegalese National side, amongst other choices.

The 2023 AFCON will kick off in Ivory Coast on January 14.