As Africa anticipates the kickoff of the 34th Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), let’s delve into some remarkable records from the tournament’s history that might surprise even the most avid football enthusiasts.
Key AFCON Records
1. South Africa’s Goal Drought: In the 2006 edition, South Africa became the sole team to exit AFCON without a win, draw, or goal.
2. Cameroon’s Defensive Prowess: Cameroon holds the record for the most clean sheets in a single tournament, achieving six in the 2002 edition.
3. Nigeria’s Podium Presence: Nigeria boasts a remarkable record of standing on the AFCON podium fifteen times, including three gold medals, four silver medals, and eight bronze medals.
4. Hosts Winning on Debut: Ghana (1963) and South Africa (1996) are the only teams to host and win the tournament in their debut appearances.
5. Egypt’s AFCON Dominance: Egypt clinched three consecutive AFCON titles (2006, 2008, and 2010) and holds the record for the most final appearances and wins.
6. Tunisia’s Consistent Presence: Tunisia holds the record for the most consecutive AFCON appearances, with sixteen from 1994 to 2023.
7. Longest Penalty Shoot-out Streak: Egypt maintained a remarkable penalty shoot-out winning streak for 35 years, ending in 2022 when they lost 4-2 to Senegal.
8. Historical Attendance: The highest attendance during a game was witnessed in Cairo Stadium when Egypt faced Cameroon in 1986, with 120,000 spectators.
9. Goal-Filled Encounter: The match between Egypt and Nigeria in 1963 holds the record for the most goals scored in a single game (Egypt 6-3 Nigeria).
10. Epic Penalty Session: Ivory Coast and Cameroon engaged in the longest penalty shoot-out, with Ivory Coast winning 12-11 (1-1) in 2006.
11. Dominant Victory Margin: Ivory Coast’s 6-1 win against Ethiopia in 1970 stands as the highest winning margin in AFCON history.
12. Most Goals in a Single Tournament: The Egypt 2019 edition under the 24-team system witnessed a record 102 goals.
13. Egypt’s Unbeaten Streak: Egypt enjoyed a remarkable unbeaten streak of 24 matches from 2004 to 2017 finals, ending with a 1-2 loss to Cameroon.
As AFCON 2023 unfolds, these records add a layer of fascination to the rich history of the tournament, showcasing the continent’s football prowess and memorable moments.
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