AFCON kicks off in Morocco with 67 years of continental football history backing it up, and Egypt sits at the top with seven titles, while Cameroon grabbed five and Ghana landed four. The tournament evolved from political statements during decolonization into pure sporting drama that reflects African identity through generations of play across North Africa, West Africa, and Central Africa.
Egypt dominated hard between 2006 and 2010 by winning three straight championships, but recent years showed power shifting when Senegal finally broke through after decades of near misses and Zambia pulled off an emotional win near the site where their 1993 squad died in a plane crash. South Africa's 1996 victory after apartheid ended turned the competition into something bigger than sports.
Morocco hosts this edition with pressure mounting for home advantage while defending champion Cote d'Ivoire tries to repeat and traditional powers like Nigeria plus Algeria look to reclaim status.
Egypt dominated hard between 2006 and 2010 by winning three straight championships, but recent years showed power shifting when Senegal finally broke through after decades of near misses and Zambia pulled off an emotional win near the site where their 1993 squad died in a plane crash. South Africa's 1996 victory after apartheid ended turned the competition into something bigger than sports.
Morocco hosts this edition with pressure mounting for home advantage while defending champion Cote d'Ivoire tries to repeat and traditional powers like Nigeria plus Algeria look to reclaim status.
