Hosting the CAF Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) has often been seen as a golden ticket — the roar of home crowds, familiar conditions, and national pride fueling teams to glory. Yet history shows that while some hosts have thrived under the spotlight, others have crumbled under the weight of expectation. Catch all the action live on SuperSport.
The Glory of Home Advantage
- Egypt (1959, 1986, 2006): The Pharaohs are the ultimate example of hosts rising to the occasion, winning all three times they staged the tournament. Cairo’s cauldron proved decisive in cementing Egypt’s status as AFCON royalty.
- Ghana (1963, 1978): Twice champions on home soil, the Black Stars harnessed the energy of Accra and Kumasi to deliver triumphs that remain iconic.
- Nigeria (1980): The Green Eagles soared to their first continental crown in Lagos, setting the tone for Nigeria’s footballing dominance.
- South Africa (1996): Just two years after returning to international football post-apartheid, Bafana Bafana stunned the continent by lifting the trophy in Johannesburg.
- Ivory Coast (2024): The most recent hosts to taste glory, Les Éléphants turned Abidjan into a fortress, clinching their third AFCON title.
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Close but Not Enough
- Tunisia (1965, 2004): Twice hosts, twice finalists — but only in 2004 did the Carthage Eagles finally convert home advantage into continental glory.
- Libya (1982): A runners-up finish remains their best-ever AFCON showing, powered by passionate Tripoli crowds.
- Nigeria (2000): Sharing hosting duties with Ghana, the Super Eagles reached the final but fell short against Cameroon.
Bronze and Near Misses
- Sudan (1957, 1970): Third place in the inaugural edition, then champions in 1970 — a story of persistence rewarded.
- Cameroon (1972, 2022): Twice bronze medalists at home, the Indomitable Lions showed consistency but couldn’t quite roar to the summit.
- Ghana (2008): A semifinal heartbreak left the Black Stars settling for third.
- Egypt (1974): A bronze finish in Cairo, respectable but below their lofty standards.
Hosts Who Fell Short
- Burkina Faso (1998), Mali (2002), Equatorial Guinea (2015): All reached the semifinals but stumbled at the final hurdle, finishing fourth.
- Senegal (1992), Angola (2010), Gabon & Equatorial Guinea (2012), South Africa (2013): Quarterfinal exits showed promise but not fulfillment.
- Egypt (2019): A shock last-16 elimination at home, with Mohamed Salah’s side undone by South Africa.
- Tunisia (1994), Ivory Coast (1984), Ethiopia (1976), Gabon (2017): Group-stage exits that left home fans bitterly disappointed.
The Numbers Game
- 12 hosts have lifted the trophy.
- 6 bowed out in the quarterfinals.
- 5 claimed bronze.
- 5 ended fourth.
- 4 crashed out in the group stage.
- 3 finished runners-up.
- 1 fell in the last 16.
THE VERDICT
Hosting AFCON is no guarantee of success — but history leans in favour of the hosts. Twelve times, the roar of home crowds has carried nations to glory. Yet just as often, the pressure has proved suffocating, turning home soil into a graveyard of dreams.
The Africa Cup of Nations remains a tournament where passion, unpredictability, and history collide — and for hosts, the stakes are always doubled.