The African Cup of Nations (AFCON) has been a stage for distinctive soccer expertise, thrilling matches, and historic moments since its inception in 1957.

Over time, the event has witnessed exceptional performances, and a number of other information have been set by gamers, groups, and coaches.

Listed below are 10 unimaginable AFCON details and information that spotlight the wealthy historical past of this prestigious competitors.

1. Document Prize Cash

The present AFCON version presents the most important money prize ever seen within the event, with the profitable workforce taking dwelling a powerful $7 million. This marks a considerable 40% enhance in comparison with the earlier version.

Such a major incentive is certain to raise the thrill and degree of competitors within the event.

2.  Expanded Format

The AFCON 2024 version marks a notable enlargement, accommodating 24 groups for the primary time, a serious enhance from the 16-team format within the previous event.

This enlargement guarantees the next variety of matches, amplifying the potential for upsets, and creating alternatives for surprising heroes to emerge from the various footballing panorama of the continent.

3. Most Defeats in AFCON finals

Ghana’s Black Stars have skilled probably the most defeats in AFCON finals, shedding 5 instances out of 9 makes an attempt.

The Tremendous Eagles of Nigeria intently path with 4 losses in seven last appearances.

Cameroon’s Indomitable Lions have usually stood as formidable opponents, being the supply of many challenges for the Eagles in these essential last matches.

4. Objective-scoring goalkeeper

Kennedy Mweene holds the distinctive report of being the primary and solely goalkeeper to attain a aim within the Africa Cup of Nations.

This historic second occurred in 2013 when Mweene, representing Zambia, discovered the again of the online in a match in opposition to Nigeria.

5. Most AFCON Matches Performed by a Participant

• 36 Appearances, 8 Editions

Rigobert Music, the legendary defender from Cameroon, etches his title in AFCON historical past because the participant with probably the most appearances within the event.

Music participated in a staggering 36 matches throughout eight completely different editions, displaying his enduring dedication to the competitors.

6. AFCON’s All-Time Prime Scorer

• 18 Targets, 29 Video games, 6 Editions

Samuel Eto’o, considered one of Africa’s biggest strikers, holds the excellence of being the highest scorer in AFCON historical past. The Cameroonian maestro discovered the again of the online 18 instances in 29 AFCON video games spanning six editions from 2000 to 2010, leaving an indelible mark on the event.

7. Gamers with Most AFCON Appearances

• Rigobert Music and Ahmed Hassan’s Journey: 8 Tournaments, 1996 to 2010.

Rigobert Music and Ahmed Hassan share the report for probably the most AFCON event appearances by a participant, with each stalwarts representing their respective nations, Cameroon and Egypt, in a exceptional eight editions.

Curiously, each gamers made their event debuts in 1996 and concluded their AFCON careers in 2010.

8. Oldest goalscorer in AFCON

Hossam Hassan of Egypt holds the report of being the oldest goalscorer within the historical past of the Africa Cup of Nations.

This milestone was achieved on February 3, 2006, throughout a quarterfinal match in opposition to DR Congo, the place he scored in Egypt’s 4-1 victory.

On the time of this important aim, Hossam Hassan was 39 years and 174 days previous, displaying each his longevity within the sport and his enduring influence on Egyptian soccer.

9. Nation With The Most AFCON Titles 

• Egypt’s 7 AFCON Titles, Newest in 2010

Egypt stands tall because the nation with probably the most AFCON titles, having received the celebrated event seven instances. Their newest triumph got here in 2010, solidifying Egypt’s standing as a powerhouse in African soccer.

10. Youngest Objective Scorer in AFCON

Shiva N’zigou from Gabon holds the report because the youngest participant to attain in an Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) competitors.

On the age of 16 years and 93 days, he achieved this milestone by scoring for Gabon in a match in opposition to South Africa on January 23, 2000, although his workforce in the end confronted a 3-1 defeat

11. Quickest Objective in AFCON

In 1994, Ayman Mansour etched his title in AFCON historical past by scoring the quickest aim ever within the event.

He secured this report by opening the scoring simply 23 seconds into Egypt’s match in opposition to Gabon, contributing to Egypt’s eventual 4-0 victory.

Mansour’s lightning-quick aim stays a exceptional feat within the historical past of the Africa Cup of Nations.

12. Gamers with the Most AFCON Titles

• Ahmed Hassan and Essam El Hadary: 4-Time AFCON Champions.

Ahmed Hassan and Essam El Hadary, each hailing from Egypt, share the excellence of profitable probably the most AFCON titles as gamers. The duo lifted the trophy 4 instances in 1998, 2006, 2008, and 2010, contributing considerably to Egypt’s dominance within the competitors.

13. Coaches with the Most AFCON Titles

• Charles Gyamfi and Hassan Shehata: 4-Time Champions Every.

Ghana’s Charles Gyamfi and Egypt’s Hassan Shehata share the honour of being the coaches with probably the most AFCON titles, every profitable the event 4 instances. Notably, Hassan Shehata achieved the exceptional feat of securing three consecutive titles, showcasing his teaching prowess.

14. First Overseas Coach To Carry the AFCON Trophy

In 1959, Pal Titkos made historical past by changing into the primary international coach to guide a workforce to victory within the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).

Serving because the coach for Egypt’s nationwide workforce, Titkos performed a pivotal function in guiding them to their first AFCON title in that 12 months.

15. AFCON Titles as Participant and Coach

• Mahmoud El-Gohary and Stephen Keshi’s Historic Feat.

Mahmoud El-Gohary from Egypt and the late Stephen Keshi from Nigeria maintain a singular distinction in AFCON historical past, having received the title each as gamers and coaches for his or her respective nations. This uncommon accomplishment highlights their distinctive contributions to African soccer.

16. Most Targets in a Single AFCON Match

• Laurent Poko’s Magnificence: 5 Targets in 1970’s 6-1 Triumph.

In 1970, Laurent Poko of Ivory Coast etched his title within the report books by scoring 5 objectives in a single AFCON match. Poko’s exceptional feat occurred throughout a 6-1 victory in opposition to Ethiopia, showcasing his goal-scoring prowess on the grand stage.

17. Most Targets in a Single AFCON Match

• Ndiaye Mulamba: 9 Targets in 1974

Ndiaye Mulamba of DR Congo secured his place in AFCON historical past in 1974 by changing into the best goal-scorer in a single event.

Mulamba’s excellent efficiency noticed him netting 9 objectives, incomes him the Golden Boot and leaving a permanent legacy.

18. Most Embellished Crew in AFCON

• Tremendous Eagles: 15 Medals, 3 Golds, 4 Silvers, 8 Bronzes.

The Tremendous Eagles of Nigeria boast a powerful report of profitable a complete of 15 AFCON medals, making them the workforce with probably the most honors within the event.

Nigeria’s medal tally contains three gold medals, 4 silver medals, and eight bronze medals, underscoring their constant success on the continental stage.

The 14 International locations Who Have Received The AFCON

19. The primary AFCON event occurred in Sudan in 1957

• Solely three nations, hosts Sudan, Egypt, and Ethiopia, took half within the first event in February 1957 and there was no qualifying competitors.
• South Africa was additionally invited to the primary Africa Cup of Nations event in 1957 however their invitation was later withdrawn because of the nation’s apartheid legal guidelines.
• Egypt defeated hosts Sudan within the first sport performed on the AFCON profitable 2-1 on tenth January 1957.
• Raafat Attia scored the primary aim at an AFCON event when he opened the scoring for Egypt of their 2-1 Semi-final win over hosts Sudan in 1957.
• Egypt defeated Ethiopia 4-0 within the last to win the primary AFCON Match in 1957.
• Egypt received the primary two AFCON Tournaments in 1957 and 1959 whereas they had been runners-up in 1962, shedding to hosts Ethiopia within the last.
• Cote d’Ivoire are internet hosting the Africa Cup of Nations for a second time, they hosted the event for the primary time in 1984.
• When the Cote d’Ivoire hosted the AFCON in 1984 eight nations participated 5 of these nations might be becoming a member of the hosts once more they’re Algeria, Cameroon, Egypt, Ghana, and Nigeria. Lacking out are Malawi and Togo.
• Egypt has received probably the most AFCON Titles (seven), adopted by Cameroon (5), Ghana (4), Nigeria (three) the Democratic Republic of Congo, and the Ivory Coast (two every).

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• Egypt and Ghana have each reached 9 AFCON Finals whereas Egypt has received seven, Ghana has 4 wins and Cameroon has performed in seven finals profitable 5.
• Cote d’Ivoire has appeared in 4 AFCON Finals in 1992, 2006, 2012, and 2015, and in 480 minutes of play in AFCON finals have failed to provide a single aim they received on penalties after further time in 1992 and 2015 and misplaced on penalties after further time in 2006, 2012 with all 4 video games ending 0-0.
• Cameroonian Samuel Eto’o is the main general Cup of Nations scorer, notching 18 objectives in six tournaments between 2000 and 2010.
• Egypt goalkeeper Essam El Hadary turned the oldest participant at 44 years and 21 days to function within the event when he confronted Cameroon within the 2017 last in Libreville as Egypt misplaced.
• Solely as soon as in 2013 when South Africa performed out a 0-0 draw in opposition to Cape Verde the opening sport of the Africa Cup of Nations ended 0-0.
• The final host nation to achieve the AFCON Finals was Egypt who received the title on dwelling soil in 2006.
• Egypt have reached the AFCON Last in 5 of the final six tournaments that they participated in profitable in 2006, 2008, and 2010 whereas they had been runners up in 2017 and the 2021 version. They solely failed to take action in 2019 as hosts.
• 4 gamers Cameroon’s Samuel Eto’o, Ghanaian duo Asamoah Gyan in addition to Andre Ayew, and Zambia’s Kalusha Bwalya have scored in 6 AFCON Tournaments no gamers have scored in additional editions of the competitors than them.
• The 2023 AFCON would be the thirty fourth version of the event since its founding in 1957.
• The AFCON has been expanded from a 16 event which it has been since 1996 to a 24-team occasion in 2019.
• That is the third version to have 24 groups taking part.
• 16 Gamers have scored 17 hat-tricks on the Africa Cup of Nations however none since Soufiane Alloudi scored three objectives in Morocco’s 5-1 overcome Namibia within the 2008 Group Phases.
• Egypt has had 5 completely different gamers scoring six AFCON hat-tricks no nation has managed as many gamers to have scored a hat trick on the event.
• The primary hat-trick on the Africa Cup of Nations was scored by Advert-Diba who scored all 4 of Egypt’s objectives of their 4-0 triumph within the 1957 last victory over Ethiopia.
• Egypt’s Hassan El-Shazly is the one participant to have scored a number of hattricks on the Africa Cup of Nations, doing so in 1963 and 1970.
• Egypt is the one workforce to have two gamers rating a hat trick in the identical sport Hassan El-Shazly and Mohammed Morsi Hussein netted all their objectives in a 6-3 win over Nigeria in a 1963 group-stage encounter.
• Egypt’s Ahmed Hassan and Cameroon’s Rigobert Music maintain the report for probably the most variety of AFCON participations with every participant having featured in 8 finals tournaments in 1996, 1998, 2000, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2008, and 2010. A report that may very well be tied by Ghana’s Andre Ayew on the subsequent version.
• South Africa completed 1st (1996), 2nd (1998), and third (2000) within the first three AFCON tournaments that they participated in.
• Ghana’s Charles Gyamfi (1963–1965, 1982) and Egypt’s Hassan Shehata (Egypt 2006–2008-2010) are the one coaches to have received the title thrice, Shehata is the one coach to have received the title in three successive tournaments.
• Two individuals Egypt’s Mahmoud El-Gohary (1959 as participant, 1998 as coach) and Stephen Keshi, of Nigeria (1994 as participant, 2013 as coach) have received the AFCON as a participant and coach.

AFCON 2023: Fixtures, Full Schedule & Dwell Outcomes

• French man Herve Renard is the one coach to have received the AFCON with two completely different nations Zambia in 2012 and Cote d’Ivoire in 2015.
• Senegal coach Aliou Cisse holds the undesirable report of shedding within the last as each a participant (2002) and coach (2019). He additionally now has received the event as a coach lifting the title with Senegal on the 2021 version.
• France has had 5 completely different coaches win six AFCON tournaments probably the most of any nation.
• In 2004 Frenchman Roger Lemmere turned the primary coach to win the AFCON and the UEFA European Championship when he led Tunisia to the title, in 2000 he led France to the European Championships.
• 44 Totally different African Nations have participated on the AFCON Comoros and Gambia had been debutants on the final version in Cameroon, there at the moment are newcomers in Cote d’ Ivoire.
• Egypt (1957), Ghana (1963), and South Africa (1996) are the one groups to have received the event of their debut look.
• Beginning in 2008 Ghana has reached the AFCON Semi-finals in six of the final eight tournaments and has been crushed finalists twice in that point shedding to Egypt in 2010 and Cote D’Ivoire in 2017.
• Tunisia have certified for his or her sixteenth successive AFCON event a run began in 1994. No workforce has ever managed 16 successive {qualifications}.
• Egypt has performed extra video games on the AFCON than every other workforce (107), they’ve received extra matches than every other workforce (60), Ghana has performed 102 video games and received 54. Cote d’Ivoire and Nigeria will be part of the centenary membership they’ve presently performed 99 and 97 video games respectively on the finals.
• Ndaye Mulamba scored 9 objectives for DR Congo on the 1974 AFCON no participant has managed extra in a single event.
• The AFCON trophy has modified thrice in historical past the primary trophy was the Abdelaziz Abdallah Salem Trophy the subsequent trophy was the African Unity trophy, a brand new trophy that was commissioned in 2001 after Cameroon received the earlier trophy for a 3rd time in 2000.
• Twelve former African Champions might be making their technique to Cote d’Ivoire for the 2023 version of the Africa Cup of Nations.
• The highest 15 ranked African groups have all certified for the 2023 version of the Africa Cup of Nations.
• 5 Southern African groups have certified for the 2023 version of the Africa Cup of Nations, probably the most the COSAFA area has had at a single last.
• Every winner of the final 25 editions of the event from 1974 has certified for the present version of the finals, the final winner to overlook out is the 1972 champions Congo.
• Each finalist from the 1984 version has reached the 2023 version of the Africa Cup of Nations, the final workforce to achieve the ultimate who haven’t certified are 1982 runners-up Libya.

How Do Commentators Know the Gamers’ Names & Statistics?

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