The African Nations Cup

The African Nations Cup or the African Cup of Nations

The African Nations Cup Winner

   The African Nations Cup is the most prestigious soccer competition in Africa. The African Nations Cup, officially CAN (in French language: Coupe d'Afrique des Nations), also referred to as African Cup of Nations, African Nations Cup, or AFCON. It is the main international association football competition in African nations or in the whole continent. It is certified by the Confederation of African Football (CAF). This competition was first held in 1957 in Khartoum, Sudan.  Since 1968, this competition has been held in every two years. The current champion of this tournament can be qualifying for the FIFA Confederations Cup tournament for that time.

   The origins of the African Nations Cup were started from June 1956, when the creation of the Confederation of African Football was proposed during the third FIFA congress in Lisbon, Portugal. There were immediate plans for a continental nation’s tournament to be held, and in February 1957. The first African Nations Cup was took place in Khartoum, Sudan, only 3 countries were participated in that competition. The completion was being played of the four founding members of CFA (Sudan, South Africa, Egypt and Ethiopia).

   South Africa's insistence on selecting only white-skinned players for their squad due to that nation's race-hatred policy led to its disqualification, and as a consequence Ethiopia were got the chance to play directly to the final. Only two matches were played in the completion, Egypt was defied Sudan in the semi-final and they became the champion to beat Ethiopia in the final match. In the second completion, Egypt was the champion again and the respective same those three teams were also played. The number of teams were increased in the third African Nations Cup which held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia in 1962. Nine teams were finally played in that completion, and for the first time there was a qualification round to determine which four teams would play for the title. Egypt was made its third consecutive final appearance, but this time host Ethiopia emerged the title.

   Since, the tournament has been grown greatly, making it necessary to hold a qualifying tournament. The number of participants in the final tournament reached 16 in 1998, and since then, the format has been unchanged. There are sixteen teams being drawn into four groups of four teams each, with the top two teams of each group advancing to a "knock-out" stage. And now this football championship is become a pride and glory of a nation.

About the Trophies:

The African Cup of Nations Trophy

   In the history of the African Nations Cup, there are three different trophies have been awarded to the winners of this competition. The original trophy (first trophy) was made of silver. That trophy was named “Abdel Aziz Abdallah Salem Trophy”, according its donor (an Egyptian who was the first CAF president). The African Nations Cup was first held in Khartoum, Sudan in 1957 and Egypt was the first nation to get this trophy by beating the host nation in the final. That trophy was permanently awarded to Ghana in 1978 when Ghana became the first country to win the three African Nations Cup titles, and Ghana obtained the right to permanently hold the trophy in 1978.

   The second trophy was known as the African Unity Cup. It was awarded from 1980 to 2000 for the African Cup of Nations. This second trophy was named “Trophy of African Unity” or “African Unity Cup”. It was given by the Supreme Council for Sports in Africa to the CAF prior to the 1980 tournament. This trophy was also permanently to Cameroon in 2000 when Cameroon claimed their third title of this completion since 1978.

   In 2001, the third trophy for this football tournament was revealed. It was a gold-plated cup designed and it was made in Italy. The new trophy called “The Cup of Nations” was introduced in the African Cup of Nations in 2002. Cameroons was the permanent holders of the previous trophy and Cameroon are the first nation to win the first title in the new trophy in 2002. Egypt won the gold-plated cup for ever after they became three-time champions in 2010 and they got a record achievement by winning three successive continental titles (2006, 2008 and 2010). The previous winners of the African Nations Cup who would have then taken the trophy home; but in this time, Egypt were presented with a special full size replica that they got to keep.

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