The Africa Cup of Nations, also known as the Total Africa Cup of Nations for sponsorship reasons, is the main international football competition in Africa.
It is organized by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and is held every two years. The tournament features teams from across the continent and has been held since 1957.
The most recent edition of the tournament was held in 2019 in Egypt, where Algeria emerged as the champions after defeating Senegal in the final. The tournament featured 24 teams for the first time, up from the previous 16-team format. The next edition is scheduled to be held in Cameroon in 2022, with the tournament set to return to its traditional schedule of being held every two years.
The tournament is considered one of the most prestigious competitions in African football, and the top teams from across the continent compete for the title. Some of the most successful nations in the tournament’s history include Egypt, who have won the tournament a record seven times, and Ghana and Cameroon, who have each won the tournament four times.
The Africa Cup of Nations also serves as a qualification tournament for the FIFA World Cup, with the winner and runner-up of the tournament qualifying for the World Cup. Additionally, the tournament serves as a platform for African players to showcase their talents to clubs and national teams around the world.
In recent years, the Africa Cup of Nations has faced criticism for its scheduling, with the tournament being held during the middle of European club football seasons, causing players to miss games for their clubs. Additionally, the tournament has faced criticism for the lack of infrastructure and facilities in some host nations.
Despite these challenges, the Africa Cup of Nations remains an important and highly-anticipated tournament in African football, and the 2024 edition promises to be an exciting and competitive event.
