Which country has won the Africa Cup of Nations the most times?

By Doug Mattushek
4th January 2024

With the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations around the corner, we take a stroll down memory lane.

Africa's premier continental football competition began its journey in 1957 with just three teams - Egypt, Sudan and Ethiopia - competing for silverware.

Now, 34 editions later, the competition has expanded to 24 teams and has featured no less than 15 different champions.

Here, SABC Sport takes a look at the most prolific teams in AFCON’s esteemed history.

Egypt - 7 titles

It was the Pharaohs who lifted that inaugural title in 1957, defeating Ethiopia 4-0 in the final.

Egypt picked up three more titles before they began their unprecedented treble run from 2006 to 2010.

Defeating Ivory Coast, Cameroon and Ghana, Egypt established themselves as the giants of African football in that era.

Key to their form during that time was superstar attacking midfielder Ahmed Hassan, who bagged two Player of the Tournament accolades.

Mohamed Salah’s Egypt has since made two finals - in 2017 and 2021 - losing on both occasions.

Cameroon - 5 titles

Legendary Cameroon goalkeeper Joseph-Antoine Bell helped The Indomitable Lions to their first two AFCON titles in 1984 and 1988.

For their back-to-back titles in 2000 and 2002, four-time African Footballer of the Year Samuel Eto'o guided his charges through two tense penalty shootouts in the finals.

Cameroon earned their fifth title when they defeated the favourites Egypt in the 2017 AFCON Final. Talismanic striker Vincent Aboubaker scored a late winner to break Egyptian hearts and write his name into the history books

Ghana - 4 titles

A powerhouse of the 60s and 80s, Ghana has been unfortunate not to add more trophies to their cabinet.

The Black Stars won all four of their AFCON titles between 1963 and 1982, two as hosts. But while they enjoyed much success, they are also the perennial bridesmaids of the tournament, having finished runners-up on no less than five occasions.

Striker Andre Ayew - the leading AFCON scorer at the 2023 edition - will wear the captain’s armband for Ghana as they search for a fifth title.

Nigeria - 3 titles

Hosting the tournament for the first time in 1980, the Super Eagles romped to the title, conceding just one goal.

In the 1994 AFCON final, a brace from midfield star Emmanuel Amunike saw them defeat Zambia 2-1.

Nigeria added a third African trophy to their collection at the 2013 edition. The win over Burkina Faso was thanks to a superb piece of skill from midfielder Sunday Mba, who flicked the ball over his defender with one foot and fired the ball home with the other for the only goal of the final.

Honourable mention

South Africa have hoisted the AFCON Cup on just one occasion, but what an occasion it was.

Bafana Bafana - led by Neil Tovey - won the title on home soil in 1996, with President Nelson Mandela presenting the trophy and inspiring hope for all in the newborn democracy.