The Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) stands as the pinnacle, where the best players on the continent come together as they fight for one trophy. The competition has a lot of history and tradition with the players always ready to showcasing the sheer brilliance and resilience of Africa’s footballing prowess.
Most teams find it difficult to defend the title after they won it in the previous edition. The exit of Senegal at the ongoing 2023 AFCON in the hands of the Elephants of Cote d’Ivoire ensured that the Terenga Lions will not defend their title which they won two years ago in Cameroon.
We have decided to highlight the teams have been able to defend the competition since its inception in 1957.
Which teams have successfully defended their AFCON title?
(1) Egypt:
The Pharoahs are the most decorated team on the continent having won the AFCON seven times having defended on two separate occasions. The North Africa giants won the tournament in 1957 and 1959, they went on to win it three times in a row becoming the only nation to achieve such feat in Africa.
(2) Ghana:
The Black Stars also have their name engraved their names in the sand of time when it comes to AFCON, they won the tournament in 1965 and successfully defended it in 1967, both editions were hosted by Sudan and Tunisia respectively. The Black Stars have won the competition four times.
(3) Cameroon:
The home nation of Samuel Eto completes the three-man list of countries that have won the competition back-to-back. The Indomitable Lions dominated the continent during the early 2000’s when they were a force to reckon with at any AFCON, they won the tournament in 2000 and went on to defend the competition in 2004. The Lions have also won the tournament four times just like Ghana.
