Africa Cup of Nations
The Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) is the main international men's football tournament contested by African national teams and organized by the Confederation of African Football (CAF).
The Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) is the premier men's football tournament for African national teams, organized by the Confederation of African Football (CAF). Held every two years since 1957, it has grown from four teams to 24 in the final tournament as of 2019.
What it is
AFCON is the main international men's football competition in Africa, run by CAF. It features national teams from across the continent, with the final tournament now including 24 teams. Egypt holds the record for most titles with seven, while Morocco is the current champion.
Key details
The tournament began in 1957 with just four teams. Over time, CAF expanded the format: 8 teams, then 12, then 16 from 1996 to 2017, and 24 since 2019. Notable records include Samuel Eto'o as top scorer, Sadio Mané as top assist provider, and Rigobert Song with the most appearances.
Why it matters
AFCON is a major event in global football, drawing attention from fans worldwide, including Canada's large African diaspora. The 2023 edition was won by Côte d'Ivoire, and Morocco are the current title holders heading into the 2025 tournament.
In short
- AFCON is Africa's top men's football tournament, held every two years since 1957.
- Egypt has won the most titles (7); Morocco is the current champion.
- The final tournament expanded to 24 teams in 2019.
- Canada's African diaspora follows AFCON closely, linking it to local football interest.
The competition is of interest to Canadian readers because Canada has a large African diaspora and follows major international football tournaments, including AFCON-related player and club connections.
Quick questions
How often is the Africa Cup of Nations held?
Which country has won the most AFCON titles?
Who is the current champion?
Sources
- Confederation of African Football — https://www.cafonline.com/fr/competitions/caf-competitions/Supports: Tournament frequency, historical expansion of the final tournament, and the role of the winner in continental competitions.
- French Football Federation — https://www.fff.fr/343-palmares-de-la-coupe-d-afrique-des-nations.htmlSupports: List of champions by edition, including Egypt's record title count and recent winners.
- Wikipedia — https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coupe_d'Afrique_des_nations_de_footballSupports: Summary statistics including most titles, top scorer, top assist provider, most appearances, and current title holder as presented in the source.
- Le Figaro — https://www.lefigaro.fr/sports/football/coupe-d-afrique-des-nations/calendrier-resultatsSupports: Recent tournament results showing Morocco in the 2026 results page context.
- BBC Afrique — https://www.bbc.com/afrique/articles/cd6381q2q24oSupports: 2025 tournament format, number of teams, number of matches, and host cities/stadiums.