African Cup of Nations winners list

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The 30 editions of the Africa Cup of Nations have been won by 14 different nations.

Egypt leads with 7 titles followed by Ghana and Cameroon with four titles each. Here is the African Cup of Nations winners list

1957 African Cup of Nations winner, Egypt1957 African Cup of Nations
Winner: Egypt
Runners-up: Ethiopia
Final Score: Egypt 4-0 Ethiopia
Host: Sudan

The first edition of the African Cup of nations was hosted by Sudan in 1957. Three teams took part and only two games were played. Egypt defeated the hosts 2-1 in the semifinal and Ethiopia automatically advanced to the final following the ban on South Africa. Ad Diba of Egypt scored all four goals against Ethiopia as Egypt comfortably won the first title of the continental championship.

1959 African Cup of Nations
Winner: United Arab Republic
Runners-up: Sudan
Final Score: United Arab Republic 2-1 Sudan
Host: United Arab Republic

The United Arab Republic, a confederation of Egypt and Syria, hosted and won the tournament in 1957. Matches were played in a round robin format among three teams. The home team won two matches, 4-0 against Ethiopia and 2-1 over Sudan, to top the group. Mahmoud El-Gohary of the U.A.R. finished as the top scorer of the tournament with four goals.

Ethiopian squad won the 1962 African Cup of Nations trophy1962 African Cup of Nations
Winner: Ethiopia
Runners-up: United Arab Republic
Final Score: Ethiopia 4-2 U.A.R (Extra Time)
Host: Ethiopia

Ethiopia was the winner of the 1962 competition after beating the defending champions 4-2 after extra time. Nine teams had taken part in the tournament leading to the introduction of a qualification round, but Ethiopia had an automatic qualification as hosts. Ethiopia had only to beat Tunisia to get into the final. They came from two goals down to win 4-2 and went on to face the United Arab Republic in the final.

1963 African Cup of Nations trophy won by Ghana1963 African Cup of Nations
Winner: Ghana
Runners-up: Sudan
Final Score: Ghana 3-0 Sudan
Host: Ghana

The hosts once again took the home advantage to win the title. The tournament schedule was reformed to involve two groups each made up of three teams. Ghana topped Group A after beating Ethiopia and drawing 1-1 against Tunisia. The hosts were champions through three second-half goals in the final tie against Sudan.

Ghana defended their title by winning the 1965 African Cup of Nations finals1965 African Cup of Nations
Winner: Ghana
Runners-up: Tunisia
Final Score: Ghana 3-2 Tunisia (Extra Time)
Host: Tunisia

A recurrence of having the host winning the title was halted by Ghana after edging out Tunisia in the 1965 final. Ghana scored first but two goals by Tunisia early in the second half saw them trailing. The defending champions recovered the deficit in the 79th minute to force the game into extra time. The game ended 3-2 and Ghana was the winner once again.

1968 African Cup of Nations
Winner: Congo-Kinshasa
Runners-up: Ghana
Final Score: Congo-Kinshasa 1-0 Ghana
Host: Ethiopia

A lone goal sealed the win for Congo-Kinshasa in the 1968 final, after knocking out Ethiopia in the semis. Congo-Kinshasa ensured the final score in the match against Ghana was not a repeat of a similar tie earlier in the competition which they had lost 2-1. Kalala Mukendi scored for Congo to secure the first title and end any hopes the defending champions had of making it three title wins in a row.

Sudan grabbed the 1970 African Cup of Nations trophy1970 African Cup of Nations
Winner: Sudan
Runners-up: Ghana
Final Score: Sudan 1-0 Ghana
Host: Sudan

Sudan beat Ghana 1-0 in the final of the 1970 championship. Ghana was in the final for a consecutive four times after beating Ivory Coast in the semifinal. However, Sudan was seriously contesting for their first title. They took charge of the game in the early minutes and managed to score the only goal of the match. 

1972 African Cup of Nations
Winner: Congo
Runners-up: Mali
Final Score: Congo 3-2 Mali
Host: Cameroon

The People’s Republic of Congo knocked out the home team in the semifinal to advance to the final. Three goals scored within seven minutes of the second half helped them win 3-2 over Mali in the final. The victory marked Congo’s first title in the championship.

1974 African Cup of Nations champion, Zaire1974 African Cup of Nations
Winner: Zaire
Runners-up: Zambia
Final Score: Zaire 2-2 Zambia (2-0 Replay)
Host: Egypt

The 1974 African Cup of Nations final was a tie between Zaire and Zambia. The teams equaled 2-2 in the final and had to go for a replay two days later. Two goals by the top scorer of the tournament, Ndaye Mulamba, secured the win for Zaire. This was the second title for Zaire, having won for the first time in 1968 as Congo-Kinshasa.

1976 Morocco football national team won the 1976 African Cup of Nations1976 African Cup of Nations
Winner: Morocco
Runners-up: Guinea
Host: Ethiopia

Morocco was the champion of the tenth edition of the competition. The tournament schedule changed with the new format including a final round for the top finishers in the two groups. Morocco finished a point ahead of Guinea after winning two games 2-1, against Egypt and Nigeria, and tying 1-1 with Guinea. 

1978 African Cup of Nations
Winner: Ghana 
Runners-up: Uganda
Final Score: Ghana 2-0 Uganda
Host: Ghana

Ghana won the third title after defeating Uganda 2-0 in the final with both goals from the top scorer of the tournament, Opoku Afriyie. Earlier on Ghana had knocked out Tunisia in the semifinal, as the format used in the previous tournament was abandoned and went back to the earlier setup.

1980 African Cup of Nations
Winner: Nigeria 
Runners-up: Algeria
Final Score: Nigeria 3-0 Algeria
Host: Nigeria

Nigeria crushed Algeria in the finals to win the first title in the African Cup of Nations competition. The hosts defeated Morocco 1-0 in the semi final and continued the fine performance to cap a convincing 3-0 win over the Algerians.

1982 African Cup of Nations
Winner: Ghana 
Runners-up: Libya
Final Score: Ghana 1-1 Libya (7-6 pen)
Host: Libya

Ghana returned to their winning ways to claim a fourth title in the championship. They faced the home team in the final, the second time both teams faced off as they had met earlier in the group stage. The match ended 1-1 after extra time and the tie had to be broken through penalties. Ghana was the victor after winning the penalty shootout 7-6.

1984 African Cup of Nations champion, Cameroon1984 African Cup of Nations
Winner: Cameroon 
Runners-up: Nigeria
Final Score: Cameroon 3-1 Nigeria
Host: Ivory Coast

Cameroon finally got the first title in 1984, defeating Nigeria 3-1 in the final. Cameroon made it to the final by knocking out Algeria in the semifinal through a penalty shootout. They had also to fight from a goal down after Nigeria took the lead in the 10th minute but managed a 3-1 win.

Egyptian team that won the 1986 African Cup of Nations1986 African Cup of Nations
Winner: Egypt 
Runners-up: Cameroon
Final Score: Egypt 3-1 Cameroon
Host: Egypt

Egypt edged out Cameroon in the final to win the third title. This host had been chasing for another title since winning the 1957 and 1959 competitions. The match ended in a barren draw after extra time but the North African nation clinched the title by winning the penalty shootout 5-4.

Cameroon captured the 1988 African Cup of Nations trophy1988 African Cup of Nations
Winner: Cameroon
Runners-up: Nigeria
Final Score: Cameroon 1-0 Nigeria
Host: Morocco

Cameroon made it into a successive final, only that this time they managed to win against Nigeria. Cameroon eliminated the hosts in the semifinal to book a place in the final with the Nigerians. The lone goal scored through a penalty in the second half of the final was enough to ensure Cameroon won its second title.

1990 African Cup of Nations Algerian squad1990 African Cup of Nations
Winner: Algeria
Runners-up: Nigeria
Final Score: Algeria 1-0 Nigeria
Host: Algeria

The 1990 Africa Cup of Nations was a repeat of the final a decade before, with Algeria facing Nigeria. Algeria beat Senegal 2-1 in the semifinal to progress to the final. The West African team had to settle for second place this round as Algeria won 1-0 in the final to earn their first title.

1992 African Cup of Nations
Winner: Ivory Coast
Runners-up: Ghana
Final Score: Ivory Coast 0-0 Ghana (11-10 pen)
Host: Senegal

The final of the 1992 Cup of Nations was a contest between Ivory Coast and Ghana. The two teams failed to score after extra time and the game was decided on penalties. All the players took part in the shootout as Ivory Coast won 11-10 to earn the first title.

1994 African Cup of Nations Winner, Nigeria1994 African Cup of Nations
Winner: Nigeria
Runners-up: Zambia
Final Score: Nigeria 2-1 Zambia
Host: Tunisia

Nigeria came from a goal down to win 2-1 in the final against Zambia. Emmanuel Amuneke came on as a substitute in the match and scored the two goals that secured the win. Nigeria had earlier on defeated Zaire 2-0 in the quarter final and the defending champions, Ivory Coast, in the semifinal. 

South Africa won the 1996 African Cup of Nations championship trophy1996 African Cup of Nations
Winner: South Africa
Runners-up: Tunisia
Final Score: South Africa 2-0 Tunisia
Host: South Africa

South Africa was back in the championship after being banned since the inaugural tournament. They marked their return by winning the title on their home ground. The hosts knocked out Algeria in the quarter final and Ghana in the semifinal before defeating Tunisia 2-0 to win their first title. 

1998 African Cup of Nations winner, Egypt1998 African Cup of Nations
Winner: Egypt
Runners-up: South Africa 
Final Score: Egypt 2-0 South Africa
Host: Burkina Faso

Egypt’s renowned performance at the international platform was renewed in the 1998 Cup of Nations final as they emerged the winners for the fourth time. The side had failed to make to the final since winning in 1986. Egypt knocked out the Ivory Coast and the home team before winning the final 2-0 over the defending champions.

2000 African Cup of Nations champion, Cameroon2000 African Cup of Nations
Winner: Cameroon
Runners-up: Nigeria
Final Score: Cameroon 2-2 Nigeria (4-3 pen)
Host: Ghana and Nigeria

Cameroon won the 2000 Africa Cup of Nations to reach three title victories. They booked a place in the final after thrashing Algeria 3-0 in the semifinal. In the final, Cameroon lost a 2-0 lead to tie 2-2 with Nigeria. The teams went for a penalty shootout which ended 4-3 in favor of Cameroon.

Cameroon won the 2002 African Cup of Nations trophy2002 African Cup of Nations
Winner: Cameroon
Runners-up: Senegal
Final Score: Cameroon 0-0 Senegal (3-2 pen)
Host: Mali

Cameroon appeared in the following contest and went on to win its fourth title of the competition after defeating Senegal in the final. The game was goalless after extra time and Cameroon managed to outscore the opponents 3-2 on penalties to be champions for a consecutive time.

2004 African Cup of Nations winner, Tunisia2004 African Cup of Nations
Winner: Tunisia
Runners-up: Morocco
Final Score: Tunisia 2-1 Morocco
Host: Tunisia

Tunisia was the winner of the 2004 tournament, their first title in the championship. Tunisia knocked out 2002 finalist Senegal in the quarter final before eliminating Nigeria in the semifinal. They faced Morocco in the final, winning 2-1 to take home the Cup of Nations trophy.

Egypt captured the 2006 African Cup of Nations championship trophy2006 African Cup of Nations
Winner: Egypt
Runners-up: Ivory Coast
Final Score: Egypt 0-0 Ivory Coast (4-2 pen)
Host: Egypt

Egypt made it five title wins when they defeated Ivory Coast in the final through penalties. Egypt had earlier beaten Senegal and DR Congo in the knock out rounds. The final ended in a barren draw but the hosts won 4-2 in the shootout to become champions of Africa.

Egypt defended their trophy and won the 2008 African Cup of Nations tournament2008 African Cup of Nations
Winner: Egypt
Runners-up: Cameroon
Final Score: Egypt 1-0 Cameroon
Host: Ghana

Egypt featured again in the 2008 Cup of Nations final to win 1-0 over Cameroon. Despite the exceptional performance of its star player Samuel Eto’o, the Cameroon side could not make to dethrone the defending champions. Egypt earned the title after broking the deadlock in the 77th minute to win 1-0.

2010 African Cup of Nations winner, Egypt2010 African Cup of Nations
Winner: Egypt
Runners-up: Ghana
Final Score: Egypt 1-0 Ghana
Host: Angola

Egypt continued their dominance in the African soccer competition by emerging champions for the third consecutive time. Egypt recorded a perfect victory in the tournament, winning all the group matches then eliminating Cameroon, Algeria and finally Ghana. No other nation has managed to break the record Egypt has of seven title wins.

Zambia won the 2012 African Cup of Nations championship2012 African Cup of Nations
Winner: Zambia
Runners-up: Ivory Coast
Final Score: Zambia 0-0 Ivory Coast (8-7 pen)
Host: Gabon and Equatorial Guinea

Zambia exceeded expectations to emerge victorious over the Ivory Coast side in the final. The Zambians beat Sudan and Ghana to reach the final which was decided on penalties after both teams were level after extra time. Zambia won their first title by leading 8-7 in the penalty shootout.

Nigeria brought home the 2013 African Cup of Nations trophy2013 African Cup of Nations
Winner: Nigeria
Runners-up: Burkina Faso
Final Score: Nigeria 1-0 Burkina Faso
Host: South Africa

Nigeria was the champion at the expense of Burkina Faso in the 2013 African Cup of Nations held in South Africa. Having eliminated the Ivory Coast in the quarter final and Mali in the semifinal, Nigeria faced Burkina Faso in the final. They won the match 1-0 to secure the third title.

Ivory coast capture the 2015 African Cup of Nations championship trophy2015 African Cup of Nations
Winner: Ivory Coast
Runners-up: Ghana
Final Score: Ivory Coast 0-0 Ghana (9-8 pen)
Host: Equatorial Guinea

Ivory Coast and Ghana faced off in the final for the second time in the history of the championship, after playing for the first time in 1992. Ivory Coast advanced after knocking out one of the tournament’s favorites, Algeria, in the quarter final and DR Congo in the semifinal. The match against Ghana remained goalless after extra time and Ivory Coast won on penalties to win the second title.