The Africa Cup of Nations has changed from a symbolic gathering of post-colonial countries to a high-stakes international sporting event. The most recent triumph by the Ivory Coast hosts marked 67 years of tournament growth.

  Ivory Coast beat Nigeria 2-1 in Abidjan on February 11, 2024, to win their third Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) championship. This was one of the most amazing comebacks in football history.

 Sébastien Haller, a player who himself recovered from a fight with cancer, scored a late goal to cement their triumph after they had been on the verge of elimination in the group stage.

 There was more than just a national celebration going on at the Alassane Ouattara Stadium.  They served as evidence of the AFCON's long-standing dominance as a top international tournament, which has expanded from a political statement involving three teams to a 24-nation worldwide spectacle that is viewed by billions of people.

 The tournament's trajectory reflects the continent's own convoluted history of political conflict, independence, and expanding power.  Its history documents the countries that have gained power, the dynasties they have established, and the ongoing difficulties it faces in a competitive world football schedule.

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 What Were the Political Roots of the Tournament?

 The Africa Cup of Nations was founded with more than simply a sports goal in mind.  Its origins may be traced back to the post-colonial period, when newly independent countries attempted to establish a unique continental identity.

 A Viewpoint After Colonialism

 A FIFA conference in Lisbon in June 1956 suggested the creation of the Confederation of African Football (CAF).  A small number of delegates, notably Abdelrahim Shaddad of Sudan, Ydnekatchew Tessema of Ethiopia, and Abdelaziz Abdallah Salem of Egypt, supported the notion.

 At first, they intended to hold a continental championship.  The original trophy was named after Salem, who became the first president of CAF.

 The Original Stand and the Original Cup

 The first competition was place in Khartoum, Sudan, in February 1957.  The four original CAF members—Egypt, Sudan, Ethiopia, and South Africa—were supposed to participate.

 However, a potent political act kicked off the event.  Before a ball was kicked, South Africa was eliminated.  The apartheid administration insisted on sending an all-white team instead than one with a mix of races.  South Africa was eliminated from the tournament because the other three nations united in their refusal to accept this.

 This choice, made years before international sports organizations implemented mass boycotts, solidified the tournament's function as a platform for anti-colonial, anti-apartheid sentiment and pan-African solidarity.

 Ethiopia was given a bye to the final because South Africa was eliminated.  In the semi-final, Egypt beat Sudan, the hosts.  Egypt defeated Ethiopia 4-0 in the first AFCON final, scoring all four goals through Mohamed Diab Al-Attar, popularly known as "Ad-Diba."

 Which Countries Have Created Dynasties in AFCON?

 Although 15 different countries have hoisted the trophy in the tournament's 34 editions, a few dominant nations have shaped its history.

 The Continent's Kings: The Pharaohs

 Egypt has won a record seven AFCON titles (1957, 1959, 1986, 1998, 2006, 2008, 2010), making it the most successful country in the history of the competition.  They won the first two editions, but the 21st century was their most successful era.

 The Pharaohs won the cup three times in a row with coach Hassan Shehata, in 2006, 2008, and 2010.   This "golden generation" included players like Mohamed Aboutrika, Ahmed Hassan, and Essam El-Hadary. They set an unmatched level for technical skill and tactical discipline.

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  The Unstoppable Lions and the Black Stars

  Cameroon is the second strongest country in the continent, having won five titles (1984, 1988, 2000, 2002, and 2017).   The Indomitable Lions, known for their power and determination, won back-to-back titles in 2000 and 2002. Samuel Eto'o, the tournament's all-time leading scorer with 18 goals, was in charge of the team.

 Ghana (The Black Stars) won four titles in 1963, 1965, 1978, and 1982, defining the tournament's early years.  In 1978, they were granted the privilege to keep the original trophy for good as they were the first country to win the cup three times.  Ghana has had a 42-year championship drought and three final losses despite generating elite players.

 With three championships (1980, 1994, and 2013), the Super Eagles of West African Power Bloc Nigeria have shown to be a formidable force.  

They are frequently regarded as one of the best teams in the competition because of their 1994 triumph, which featured players like Rashidi Yekini and Emmanuel Amunike.  Additionally, they have placed second five times, most recently in 2023.

 After winning in 1992 and 2015, Ivory Coast (The Elephants) entered this group in 2023.  Following 0-0 ties in the final, they memorably won their first two games in penalty shootouts.

 The whole list of AFCON winners, broken down by year

 From three to twenty-four teams, how did the tournament change?

 With 24 teams, 52 matches, and significant shocks, the 2023 tournament is completely different from the 1957 three-team competition.  This expansion took place in discrete stages.

 By 1968, there were eight teams in the field, a structure that held steady for more than 20 years.  The competition expanded to 12 teams in 1992.

 When the tournament expanded to 16 teams in 1996, it underwent the most major political and athletic growth.  South Africa hosted this edition, signifying their symbolic comeback to the tournament following the end of apartheid.  The final was won by the hosts, Bafana Bafana, in a fairy tale finale.

 CAF said in 2017 that the competition will grow once further, this time to include 24 teams.  Egypt hosted the inaugural 24-team competition in 2019.  At first, there was pessimism about this change because some thought it would lower the caliber of play.

 The 2021 and 2023 editions, however, demonstrated the contrary.  In addition to enabling spectacular "Cinderella runs" from countries like Comoros, The Gambia, and Cape Verde, the expanded structure helped the 2023 tournament see the shocking group-stage eliminations of titans like Algeria, Ghana, and Tunisia.

 Why Is There a Story in the AFCON Trophy?

 Three separate trophies, each signifying a different era, tell the tale of the competition.

 The first silver trophy, known as the Abdelaziz Abdallah Salem Trophy (1957–1978), was named for the first president of CAF.  At the time, a provision let any country that won the tournament three times to retain it indefinitely.  Ghana was the first to do so in 1978.

 The second award, known as the award of African Unity (1980–2000), was first presented in 1980.  After Cameroon won their third title in 2000, it was also retired.

 The current gold-plated trophy for the Cup of Nations was introduced in 2001.  A new regulation was put in place after two trophies were distributed: three-time winners are no longer eligible to keep the original prize.  The original Cup of Nations trophy is still owned by CAF, but Egypt received a full-size copy when they won their third title of this period in 2010 (their seventh overall).

 This "Club vs. Country" scheduling dilemma: what is it?

 The tournament's position on the world calendar continues to be its biggest source of contention, despite its prominence.

 The Window of Winter

 January and February are the customary months for AFCON.  Its schedule puts it squarely in the middle of the European club season, avoiding the rainy seasons or the intense summer temperatures in many host countries.

 This leads to an ongoing "club vs. country" dispute.  For as long as six weeks, elite European teams in France, Italy, Spain, and England are compelled to let go of their African-born superstars, such as Achraf Hakimi, Victor Osimhen, and Mohamed Salah.  Public anxiety has resulted from this, and participants have occasionally been under pressure to miss the competition.

 The Reversal and Summer Experiment

 CAF rescheduled the 2019 tournament in Egypt for June and July in order to address this dispute.  

This brought the event into line with other significant continental championships and was generally regarded as a success.

 However, this method was not feasible for the continent as a whole.  

Both the Cameroonian edition of 2021 and the Ivory Coast edition of 2023 were rescheduled for the January/February window. 

 The weather was the cause; if the tournament were held in June or July, it would take place during the wettest part of the West African season, which may be dangerous for the fields and the safety of the players.

 An African football observer pointed out that "CAF must navigate the demands of European clubs and FIFA's new calendar, all while protecting the tournament's integrity."  "Scheduling it for the safety of players and fans in African climates remains the top priority."

 This problem is going to become worse.  

The continual struggle for space in a schedule dominated by European and international interests is seen in the 2025 AFCON in Morocco, which has already been postponed until early 2026 to avoid conflict with FIFA's new, expanded 32-team Club World Cup.