With three days remaining till the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations, Morocco 2025 begins, African soccer as soon as once more turns to a match the place historical past weighs closely on each kick of the ball.
On Sunday, when hosts Morocco face Comoros in Rabat, a brand new chapter will open — however one written towards the backdrop of information solid throughout practically 70 years of continental competitors.
AFCON has at all times been a proving floor not only for groups, however for endurance, consistency, dominance and moments of pure brilliance.
Some gamers outlined the match by how typically they returned. Others did so by means of objectives that modified matches, tournaments — and nationwide narratives.
As 24 nations collect in Morocco with ambition and perception, these information stand because the benchmarks each participant will chase, knowingly or not, over the subsequent month.
Most appearances on the Africa Cup of Nations
8 tournaments
Document holders
Rigobert Music (Cameroon): 1996, 1998, 2000, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2008, 2010
Ahmed Hassan (Egypt): 1996–2010
Andre Ayew (Ghana): 2008–2023
Youssef Msakni (Tunisia): 2010–2023
Showing at eight AFCON tournaments is a testomony to longevity on the highest stage of African soccer. Cameroon’s Rigobert Music and Egypt’s Ahmed Hassan set the early customary, spanning generations of teammates and opponents, whereas Andre Ayew and Youssef Msakni carried that legacy into the fashionable period.
Every represented not solely their nation however an period — surviving tactical evolution, bodily calls for and rising competitors. As Morocco 2025 begins, these 4 stay the gold customary for sturdiness in African soccer.
Most matches performed on the AFCON finals
36 matches
Document holders
Rigobert Music (Cameroon)
Andre Ayew (Ghana)
Past appearances, Music and Ayew additionally share the document for many matches performed at AFCON finals, with 36 every. Music’s tally got here largely by means of Cameroon’s sustained success between the late Nineties and early 2000s, whereas Ayew’s appearances replicate Ghana’s consistency throughout 4 totally different a long time.
At nationwide stage, Egypt lead all international locations with 111 AFCON matches performed, underlining their standing because the match’s most ever-present pressure.
Most AFCON titles received as a participant
4 titles
Document holders
Ahmed Hassan (Egypt): 1998, 2006, 2008, 2010
Essam El Hadary (Egypt): 1998, 2006, 2008, 2010
No gamers symbolise AFCON dominance greater than Egypt’s Ahmed Hassan and Essam El Hadary, each central to the Pharaohs’ unprecedented three consecutive titles from 2006 to 2010, having already tasted glory in 1998.
Hassan’s midfield management and El Hadary’s presence in aim helped outline essentially the most profitable period in AFCON historical past — a stage of sustained excellence no nation has matched since.
