The African Cup of Nations begins in Ivory Coast on Saturday, and 24 nations have landed in the Francophone country to fight for the $7 million jackpot. The trophy commissioned in 2001 after Cameroon won the Unity Cup for keeps in 2000 is also up for grabs and we take a quick look at how long participants have been waiting to get their hands on the gold trophy.
ALGERIA: The Desert Warriors will be appearing in their 20th tournament and hope to take a third title back home. They won the 2019 edition and have only been waiting for four years to regain the title.
ANGOLA: The Palancas Negras have played in eight editions and have never won the title since their 1996 debut. This is a 64 years-long wait, or a 27-year patience since they first entered the tournament.
BURKINA FASO: The Stallions have also not won the AFCON title and like Angola, have been waiting for 63 years or 45 years since their first participation in 1978 as Upper Volta.
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CAMEROON: The five-time winners last won the tournament in 2017 in Gabon and have been waiting for six years to reclaim their status as champions.
CAPE VERDE: The island nation made its debut in 2013 and is still waiting to take the continent by storm. It’s a 64-year wait, or 10 years since the debut.
DR CONGO: The Leopards last got their hands on the title in 1974. While they managed a third-place finish in 2015, the perennial AFCON participants have been on the waiting list for 49 years.
EGYPT: The Pharaohs suffered heartbreak in the last edition, losing on penalties to Senegal in the final. The most successful AFCON nation with seven titles last won it in 2010 and are on a 13-year drought.
EQUATORIAL GUINEA: The National Thunders who finished fourth on their debut in 2012 have no title and are 11 years in waiting.
GAMBIA: Made their continental debut in the last AFCON in Cameroon and are on a 64 years drought.
GHANA: The Black Stars are still feeding on past glory with the last of their four title coming in 1982. That’s 41 years of eating Banku without tasting continental glory.
GUINEA: The West African nation first qualified in 1970 and has no title to its name. 64 years of waiting and 53 years of anticipation.
GUNIEA BISSAU: The African Wild Dogs or Djurtus have not been lucky with hunting since their debut in 2017, always failing at the group stage. That’s 64 years of roaming the Savannah without the title.
IVORY COAST: The hosts are two-time champions and recently won in 2015. The Elephants can feed on their host status to claim some grass after eight years of fasting.
MALI: Runners-up in their first appearance in 1972, the Eagles of Mali have not won in their 12 appearances. Is the 64-year patience set to continue?
MAURITANIA: The Lions of Chinguetti entered the stage in 2019 but are yet to roar with the big nations and with an endless wait.
MOROCCO: Under pressure to win following their World Cup heroics, the Atlas Lions have not won since their only triumph in 1976. It remains to be seen if the latest array of stars can end the 47-year hoodoo.
MOZAMBIQUE: Fourth AFCON since their first appearance in 1986. The Mambas have never crossed the group stage and there is no path to snake through to end the 64-year wait.
NAMIBIA: The Brave Warriors have not been brave enough, nor have they won anything on the continental stage since their 1998 debut. The Warriors will need all bravery to end the 25 years of anticipation while their 64-year wait continues.
NIGERIA: The famed giants of Africa and Super Eagles last ruled the continent in 2013 and have been hovering around ever since. It remains to be seen if Jose Peseiro can bring home the fourth title after 10 years of waiting.
SENEGAL: The Teranga Lions are the current champions and have waited two years to defend their crown. The nucleus of the squad won it last time out and could be poised to retain their title.
SOUTH AFRICA: Won the AFCON on debut in 1996. The Mandela effect has faded away ever since and the Bafana Bafana are enduring a 27-year drought.
TANZANIA: Third appearance in Ivory Coast and the Taifa Stars are not expected to to trouble the order. 500 years of waiting continues.
TUNISIA: The Carthage Eagles snapped their only title on home soil in 2004 and while they should be among nations in the latter stages of the tournament, could continue their 19-year wait in Ivory Coast.
ZAMBIA: The Chipolopolo won their only title in 2012 and have been in waiting for 11 years. They may bite the bullet and continue the wait for another title.
AFCON 2023, which kicks off hours from now, and end on February 11, 2024, will hold across six stadiums located in five different cities of the country.
