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Africa Cup of Nations Overview

BDO Power Rankings: Pressure keeps building on Kane

With the Lionel Messi-Cristiano Ronaldo duopoly presumably disappearing into the rearview mirror, the battle for the Ballon d'Or hasn't felt so open for the best part of 20 years, with countless players now beginning each campaign believing they have a chance of claiming the most prestigious individual prize football has to offer. Ousmane Dembele emerged from a career plagued by injuries and inconsistencies to win the Golden Ball in 2025, and he is among a crowded field of contenders again in 2026.

South Africa Training And Press Conference - FIFA World Cup 2026

Modise believes Broos has reached his ceiling - 'We've seen his limitations'

The retired South African star has sensationally claimed that Broos has reached the end of the road with the national team. Despite the Belgian coach guiding the side back to global relevance, Modise insists that the recent World Cup exit has exposed clear tactical ceilings.

Broos backs WC experience to fuel Bafana's AFCON charge

The Belgian tactician believes South Africa have laid the perfect foundation to conquer the continent following their historic run at the ongoing global showpiece. After reaching the knockout stages for the first time, the 74-year-old is now shifting his focus toward securing silverware at the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations.

Modiba backs Broos to scrap retirement - 'I hope he stays'

The defender has thrown his weight behind the national team head coach, calling on him to stay and lead South Africa into another chapter of their remarkable rise. Despite earlier indications that the global showpiece would mark his final assignment, the Belgian has earned the unwavering backing of the squad, who believe he can build on the foundations laid and drive the team to even greater heights on the continental stage.

'I hoped Mbule would go to Siwelele; How much will he earn in Iraq?' - Fans

Following the announcement of a move to an Iraq Stars League club, the South African football fraternity has expressed heartfelt messages for the fans' favourite, who was once expected to re-establish himself as one of the most talented and exciting players to watch. This came after he joined Orlando Pirates following a disappointing stint with Mamelodi Sundowns and a short loan spell at Sekhukhune United. However, his flair-filled return to prominence proved short-lived at the Soweto giants, where the 28-year-old struggled for consistent game time under Abdeslam Ouaddou.

Mexico v South Africa: Group A - FIFA World Cup 2026

Adams eyes WC knockout spot - 'We are confident of progressing'

The CAF Champions League-winning midfielder has issued a defiant message, insisting the squad is ready to make history at the global showpiece. South Africa face a high-stakes final group game against South Korea on Thursday, knowing a victory could finally see them break through the glass ceiling of the group stages.

Pos	Team		P	W	D	L	F	A	+/-	PTS	Form
1	Bournemouth		0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
2	Arsenal		0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
3	Aston Villa		0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
4	Brentford		0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
5	Brighton		0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0

Pos

Team

+/-

PTS

Form

Frequently asked questions

Who has won the most AFCON titles?

Egypt are the team who have won the most AFCON titles in history, with seven to their name. It was in 1957, the inaugural edition of AFCON, where Egypt attained glory. They would go on to add three more trophies before the turn of the century (1957, 1986, 1998), before completing a threepeat in 2006, 2008, and 2010.

How many teams are in the AFCON?

The first-ever AFCON featured just three teams. Between 1968 and 1990, eight teams featured in the tournament. An expansion in 1992 saw 12 teams feature in AFCON, and 16 from 1998. The latest expansion in 2019, though, sees 24 teams fight for glory.

Who has made the most AFCON appearances ever?

Cameroon legend Rigobert Song set the record of most AFCON appearances in 2010, playing in his 36th game in the tournament. That record was equalled by Ghanaian icon Andre Ayew in 2024.

Who is the all-time top scorer of the AFCON?

Cameroon icon Samuel Eto'o leads the all-time goalscoring charts with an impressive 18 goals over the course of 29 matches during six different tournaments.

Who is the oldest player ever in the AFCON and how old was he?

Egypt's Essam El Hadary is the oldest player ever to play in AFCON at the age of 44 years and 21 days. He achieved this feat in 2017 during Egypt's 2-1 loss to Cameroon.

Who is the youngest player ever in the AFCON and how old was he?

Former Ghana defender Joseph Odoi made his AFCON debut in 1984 at the age of 15 years and 164 days, becoming the youngest player ever to feature in the African Cup of Nations.

Which famous players have played in the AFCON?

Samuel Eto'o, Mohamed Salah, Yaya Toure, Didier Drogba, Jay-Jay Okocha, Sadio Mane, Roger Milla, Ahmed Hassan, George Weah, etc, are some of the biggest names to have featured in the African Cup of Nations.

Which famous managers have managed in the AFCON?

Charles Gyamfi, Hassan Shehata, Herve Renard, and Avram Grant are some of the most famous coaches to have led their respective teams at AFCON.