Egypt is the most decorated team in the history of Africa Cup of Nations. The Pharaohs have bagged the most prestigious title in African football a record seven times.
Being the team with a record number of participations (24), Egypt has emerged victorious on seven occasions, including the first two editions in 1957 and 1959. Three of their seven titles came at home (1959, 1986 and 2006), while they also achieved an unprecedented treble – 2006, 2008 and 2010.
Sudan 1957
The Pharaohs won the inaugural edition of the Africa Cup of Nations in Sudan in 1957. After beating hosts Sudan 2-1 in the semifinal, Mohamed Diab El Attar “El Diba” scored four times against Ethiopia in the final to see Egypt winning 4-0 and bagging the first ever AFCON title.
Coach: Mourad Fahmy
Final: Egypt 4-0 Ethiopia
Top Scorer: Mohamed Diab El Attar “El Diba” (5 goals)
Egypt 1959
It was back-to-back trophies for the Egyptians who hosted and won the second edition at home in 1959. The tournament was played in a round robin format between the three participating teams (Egypt, Sudan and Ethiopia). The Pharaohs defeated Ethiopia 4-0 with Mahmoud El Gohary (who will later coach Egypt to AFCON glory) scoring a hat-trick, before beating Sudan 2-1 to achieve their second title in a row.
Coach: Pal Titkos (Hungary)
Final: (Last match – Round Robin format) Egypt 2-1 Sudan
Top Scorer: Mahmoud El Gohary (3 goals)
Egypt 1986
Once again as hosts, The Pharaohs won their third title at home in 1986. Despite starting the campaign with a shocking 1-0 defeat to Senegal, they topped Group A with identical 2-0 victories over Cote d’Ivoire and Mozambique respectively. In the semifinals, they needed a 1-0 win over Morocco to reach the ultimate game where they face Roger Milla’s Cameroon. A goalless draw meant the game was forced to a penalty shootout, where Egypt managed a 5-4 win to restore the title after 27 years.
Coach: Mike Smith (Wales)
Final: Egypt 0-0 (5-4 on penalties) Cameroon
Top Scorer: Taher Abou Zeid (3 goals)
Burkina Faso 1998
Led by a former winner of the AFCON as a player El Gohary, Egypt were placed in Group D where they started the campaign with a 2-0 victory over Mozambique. Legendary Hossam Hassan scored the brace, before adding a hat-trick that gave The Pharaohs a 4-0 win over Zambia, before bowing to 1-0 defeat against Morocco. Penalties were needed in the quarterfinals as Egypt overcame Cote d’Ivoire 5-4 after a barren stalemate in full time. In the semis, Hassan once again was the hero, scoring a brace in a 2-0 win over hosts Burkina Faso. Ahmed Hassan and Tarek Mostafa scored two goals into the first 13 minutes against South Africa in the final as Egypt won its fourth AFCON trophy. El Gohary became the first man to win AFCON titles as player and manager, a feat later also achieved by Nigeria’s Stephen Keshi.
Coach: Mahmoud El Gohary
Final: Egypt 2-0 South Africa
Top Scorer: Hossam Hassan (7 goals)
Egypt 2006
Hosts once more, The Pharaohs won their fifth AFCON title at home in 2006. An opening match 3-0 victory over Libya was followed by a goalless draw with Morocco. Egypt finished Group A on top with a 3-1 victory over Cote d’Ivoire. In the quarterfinals, they proved too strong for DR Congo, defeating them 4-1. A hard fought 2-1 victory over Senegal sent The Pharaohs to the final, where they once again faced Didier Drogba’s Cote d’Ivoire. As it was back in 1986 final, full time ended in a goalless draw, and penalty shootout 4-2 win gave Egypt the prestigious title for the fifth time.
Coach: Hassan Shehata
Final: Egypt 0-0 (4-2 on penalties) Cote d’Ivoire
Top Scorer: Ahmed Hassan (4 goals)https://www.youtube.com/embed/z7_Olj5-tUU?feature=oembed
Ghana 2008
The Pharaohs won back to back titles when they returned from Ghana with their sixth trophy in 2008. Egypt was drawn in Group C where they started the campaign with a 4-2 win over Cameroon, followed by a 3-0 victory over Sudan and 1-1 draw with Zambia as they topped the group. In the quarterfinals Egypt defeated Angola 2-1, to set a date with Cote d’Ivoire in the semis in a repeat of the 2006 final. But this time The Pharaohs had a clear 4-1 victory to face Cameroon once again, this time in the final. Mohamed Abu Treika scored 14 minutes from time what was the game’s lone goal as Egypt cruised to the title once again.
Coach: Hassan Shehata
Final: Egypt 1-0 Cameroon
Top Scorer: Mohamed Abu Treika, Amr Zaki, Hosny Abd Rabo (4 goals)https://www.youtube.com/embed/tN480GY1qrM?feature=oembed
Angola 2010
It was a hat-trick of titles for Egypt under the guidance of Coach Hassan Shehata when they bagged their seventh AFCON title and the third in a row in Angola. The Pharaohs topped group C with maximum points after victories over Nigeria (3-1), Mozambique (2-0) and Benin (2-0). They needed extra-time to see off Cameroon 3-1 in the quarterfinals, before defeating Algeria 4-0 in the semis. “Super Sub” Mohamed Nagy “Gedo” came from the bench to score the final’s lone goal against Ghana, a feat he repeated five times through the tournament. Shehata became the second coach to win three AFCON titles after Ghana’s Charles Gyamfi, and the only one to do that three times in a row.
Coach: Hassan Shehata
Final: Egypt 1-0 Ghana
Top Scorer: Mohamed Nagy “Gedo” (5 goals).
Source: CAF