The Africa Cup of Nations, also referred to as the African Cup of Nations or African Nations Cup, officially CAN is the main international association football competition in Africa sanctioned by the Confederation of African Football (CAF)and was first held in 1957 with only three participating nations - Egypt,Sudan and Ethiopia.Since 1968 it has been held every two years. The title holders at the time of a FIFA Confederations Cup qualify for that competition.
Winners Details
Egypt is the most successful nation in the Africa Cup of Nations history, winning the tournament a record 7 times(1957,1959,1986,1998,2006,2008 and 2010)
Ghana have won 4 titles ( 1963,1965,1978 and 1982) and
Cameroon have won 4 titles ( 1984,1988,2000 and 2002)
Trophy
Throughout the history of the Nations Cup, three different trophies have been awarded to the winners of the competition. The original trophy, made of silver, was the Abdelaziz Abdallah Salem Trophy, named after the first CAF president, Egyptian Abdelaziz Abdallah Salem.
The second trophy was awarded from 1980 to 2000, and it was named "Trophy of African Unity" or "African Unity Cup" given by the Supreme Council for Sports in Africa to the CAF prior to the 1980 tournament and it was a cylindrical piece with the Olympic Rings over a map of the continent engraved on it.
In 2001, the third trophy was revealed, a gold-plated cup designed and made in Italy.
Future Conduct of the Cup
In May 2010, it was announced that the tournament would be moved to odd-numbered years from 2013. This will mean the tournament will not take place in the same year as the World Cup . It also means there will be two tournaments within twelve months in January 2012 (co-hosted by Gabon and Equatorial Guinea )
and January 2013 (hosted by South Africa )
2012 Africa Cup of Nations
The competition was co-hosted in two countries,namely,Equatorial Guinea and Gabon from Jan 21 to Feb12 ,2012
14 teams were selected for participation via continental qualification tournament that began in July 2010.
The matches were played in 4 stadiums in 4 host cities around the two countries, with the final played at the newly built Stade d'Angondje in Gabon's largest city, Libreville.
In the final, unfancied ,Zambia defeated third time finalist Cote d'Ivoire(Ivory Coast)after a dramatic penalty shootout (8-7)giving Zambia their first continental title, becoming the fourteenth nation to win the tournament
Zambia have climbed to 43rd in the Fifa world rankings after winning the Africa Cup of Nations
Player of the tournament - Christopher Katongo(Zambia)
Top goalscorer of the competition - Emmanuel Mayuka(Zambia)
Fair Player of the competition - Jean Jacques Gosso(Ivory Coast )
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