- The AFCON winners list: the first decade
- New champions in the 1970s
- Cameroon and Nigeria rise in the 1980s
- The 1990s on the AFCON winners list
- Cameroon and Egypt dominate the 2000s
- New winners in the 2010s and 2020s
- The full AFCON winners list: 1957 to 2023
- Titles by nation on the AFCON winners list
- What the AFCON winners list tells us
- A note on the disputed 2025 final
- Frequently asked questions about the AFCON winners list
- Who has won the most AFCON titles?
- How many times has Nigeria won AFCON?
- Who won the last AFCON?
- Who is the all-time top scorer at AFCON?
- How many nations have won AFCON?
- Who won the first AFCON?
- Conclusion
The AFCON winners list is the story of African football in one table. It starts in 1957, when only three teams took part in the first Africa Cup of Nations in Sudan. Since then, the tournament has grown into the biggest football event on the continent, and 15 different nations have lifted the trophy. This guide gives you the full list of every champion from 1957 to 2023, plus the story behind each era and the nations with the most titles.
Last updated: November 2026
Quick Answer
- The list covers 34 editions, from the first tournament in 1957 to the 2023 edition.
- Egypt lead with seven titles, ahead of Cameroon with five and Ghana with four.
- Nigeria have won three titles, in 1980, 1994 and 2013.
- The most recent settled champions are Côte d’Ivoire, who beat Nigeria 2-1 in the 2023 final.
- The 2025 final is disputed, so the list below stops at 2023.
The AFCON winners list: the first decade
The first Africa Cup of Nations was held in Sudan in 1957, and only three teams took part: Egypt, Ethiopia and Sudan. Egypt won that first edition, beating Ethiopia 4-0 in the final. Two years later, Egypt won again, this time as the United Arab Republic, with a 2-1 win over Sudan. Ethiopia then won the 1962 title on home soil, before Ghana took over. Ghana won in 1963, beating Sudan 3-0, and again in 1965. The decade closed with DR Congo, then known as Congo-Kinshasa, winning the 1968 title.
New champions in the 1970s
The 1970s spread the trophy around. Sudan won the 1970 title, and Congo won in 1972. Zaire, the former name of DR Congo, won in 1974, and Morocco won in 1976. Ghana returned to the top in 1978, beating Uganda 2-0 in the final. By the end of the decade, seven different nations had won the trophy, and Ghana led the way with three titles.
Cameroon and Nigeria rise in the 1980s
Nigeria won their first title in 1980, beating Algeria 3-0 in the final in Lagos. Ghana won their fourth title in 1982, and Cameroon then won in 1984, beating Nigeria 3-1 in the final. Egypt won in 1986, drawing 0-0 with Cameroon before winning 5-4 on penalties. Cameroon won again in 1988, beating Nigeria 1-0. Nigeria reached two finals in the decade and lost both, yet the 1980s showed that West and Central Africa had become the heart of the tournament.
The 1990s on the AFCON winners list
The 1990s on the AFCON winners list brought new names to the trophy. Algeria won in 1990, and Côte d’Ivoire won their first title in 1992. Nigeria won their second title in 1994, beating Zambia 2-1 in the final. South Africa won in 1996, and Egypt closed the decade with a 2-0 win over South Africa in the 1998 final.
Cameroon and Egypt dominate the 2000s
Cameroon started the new century with back-to-back titles, beating Nigeria on penalties in the 2000 final after a 2-2 draw, then winning again in 2002. Tunisia won their only title in 2004. Egypt then took control, winning in 2006 and 2008, when they beat Cameroon 1-0 in the final. Egypt’s run would carry into the next decade, and it remains the greatest run of success in the history of the tournament.
New winners in the 2010s and 2020s
Egypt completed three titles in a row in 2010, beating Ghana 1-0 in the final. No other nation has won three in a row. Zambia then won their first title in 2012, and Nigeria won their third in 2013, beating Burkina Faso 1-0. Côte d’Ivoire won again in 2015, Cameroon won in 2017 with a 2-1 win over Egypt, and Algeria won in 2019, beating Senegal 1-0. Senegal won their first title in 2021, and Côte d’Ivoire won their third in 2023, beating Nigeria 2-1 in the final. You can follow the next edition on our free live scores page.
The full AFCON winners list: 1957 to 2023
Here is the full AFCON winners list, every edition from 1957 to 2023. Final scores are shown where they are part of the verified record.
| Year | Winner | Final |
|---|---|---|
| 1957 | Egypt | 4-0 vs Ethiopia |
| 1959 | Egypt | 2-1 vs Sudan |
| 1962 | Ethiopia | — |
| 1963 | Ghana | 3-0 vs Sudan |
| 1965 | Ghana | — |
| 1968 | DR Congo | — |
| 1970 | Sudan | — |
| 1972 | Congo | — |
| 1974 | Zaire | — |
| 1976 | Morocco | — |
| 1978 | Ghana | 2-0 vs Uganda |
| 1980 | Nigeria | 3-0 vs Algeria |
| 1982 | Ghana | — |
| 1984 | Cameroon | 3-1 vs Nigeria |
| 1986 | Egypt | 0-0 vs Cameroon (5-4 on penalties) |
| 1988 | Cameroon | 1-0 vs Nigeria |
| 1990 | Algeria | — |
| 1992 | Côte d’Ivoire | — |
| 1994 | Nigeria | 2-1 vs Zambia |
| 1996 | South Africa | — |
| 1998 | Egypt | 2-0 vs South Africa |
| 2000 | Cameroon | 2-2 vs Nigeria (4-3 on penalties) |
| 2002 | Cameroon | — |
| 2004 | Tunisia | — |
| 2006 | Egypt | — |
| 2008 | Egypt | 1-0 vs Cameroon |
| 2010 | Egypt | 1-0 vs Ghana |
| 2012 | Zambia | — |
| 2013 | Nigeria | 1-0 vs Burkina Faso |
| 2015 | Côte d’Ivoire | — |
| 2017 | Cameroon | 2-1 vs Egypt |
| 2019 | Algeria | 1-0 vs Senegal |
| 2021 | Senegal | — |
| 2023 | Côte d’Ivoire | 2-1 vs Nigeria |
Titles by nation on the AFCON winners list
The titles by nation show how the trophy has been shared. Egypt lead the AFCON winners list with seven titles, and only six other nations have won it more than once.
| Nation | Titles | Years |
|---|---|---|
| Egypt | 7 | 1957, 1959, 1986, 1998, 2006, 2008, 2010 |
| Cameroon | 5 | 1984, 1988, 2000, 2002, 2017 |
| Ghana | 4 | 1963, 1965, 1978, 1982 |
| Nigeria | 3 | 1980, 1994, 2013 |
| Côte d’Ivoire | 3 | 1992, 2015, 2023 |
| Algeria | 2 | 1990, 2019 |
| DR Congo | 2 | 1968, 1974 |
| Senegal | 1 | 2021 |
| Tunisia | 1 | 2004 |
| South Africa | 1 | 1996 |
| Zambia | 1 | 2012 |
| Morocco | 1 | 1976 |
| Sudan | 1 | 1970 |
| Ethiopia | 1 | 1962 |
| Congo | 1 | 1972 |
DR Congo’s 1974 title was won under the name Zaire, and Egypt’s 1959 title was won as the United Arab Republic. In total, 15 different nations have won the trophy across 34 editions.
What the AFCON winners list tells us
Egypt are the most successful nation in AFCON history, with seven titles, and their three in a row from 2006 to 2010 has never been matched. Cameroon have won five titles from only seven final appearances, which shows how well they play in finals. Ghana have reached nine finals and won four, while Nigeria have won three titles but lost five finals, in 1984, 1988, 1990, 2000 and 2023. Cameroon’s Samuel Eto’o is the competition’s all-time top scorer with 18 goals. The tournament is organised by the Confederation of African Football (CAF). For the European version of the story, read our history of the Champions League. If you want to learn how football betting works, visit the Betting Academy.
A note on the disputed 2025 final
The 2025 tournament was held in Morocco from December 2025 to January 2026. Senegal beat Morocco 1-0 in the final on 18 January 2026, but the title is disputed as of November 2026. CAF’s Appeals Board later ruled that Senegal had forfeited the match, recorded the result as a 3-0 win for Morocco, and named Morocco the champions. Senegal appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, which was expected to rule at the end of November 2026. Until that ruling, the 2025 title stays out of the winners table above.
Frequently asked questions about the AFCON winners list
Who has won the most AFCON titles?
Egypt have won the most AFCON titles, with seven: 1957, 1959, 1986, 1998, 2006, 2008 and 2010.
How many times has Nigeria won AFCON?
Nigeria have won AFCON three times: 1980, 1994 and 2013. Nigeria have also lost five finals, in 1984, 1988, 1990, 2000 and 2023.
Who won the last AFCON?
Côte d’Ivoire won the 2023 edition, beating Nigeria 2-1 in the final. The 2023 edition was played in early 2024.
Who is the all-time top scorer at AFCON?
Cameroon’s Samuel Eto’o is the all-time top scorer at AFCON, with 18 goals.
How many nations have won AFCON?
Fifteen different nations have won the trophy, across 34 editions up to and including 2023.
Who won the first AFCON?
Egypt won the first edition in 1957, beating Ethiopia 4-0 in the final in Sudan.
Conclusion
The AFCON winners list shows a tournament that has grown from three teams in 1957 to the biggest football event in Africa. Egypt lead the way, Cameroon and Ghana follow close behind, and Nigeria’s three titles keep them among the greats. For more football stories, visit our Sports News page. For ideas on upcoming matches, see our free football predictions page.
For the Super Eagles’ own story, read our Super Eagles History: Nigeria’s Greatest Football Moments.