The African Cup of Nations, also known as AFCON, is the most prestigious football competition on the African continent. It is organized by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and features the best teams from across Africa. The competition has a rich history, having been played for over 60 years, and has grown to become one of the most-watched sporting events in the world.

History:

The first African Cup of Nations was held in 1957, with just three teams participating. Egypt emerged as the first champions, defeating Sudan 2-1 in the final. Over the years, the competition has grown in size and popularity, with more teams participating and more fans tuning in to watch the matches.

Prize Money:

The prize money for the African Cup of Nations has increased significantly over the years. In the most recent edition, held in 2019, the winner received $4.5 million, while the runner-up received $2.5 million. The total prize money for the tournament was $14.2 million.

Biggest Derby:

The biggest derby in the African Cup of Nations is the North African Derby between Egypt and Algeria. The rivalry between these two teams dates back several decades, and matches between them are always highly anticipated.

Country with the most wins:

Egypt is the country that has won the African Cup of Nations the most times, with a total of 7 wins. They are followed closely by Cameroon, who have won the tournament 5 times.

Top Scorer:

The top scorer in the history of the African Cup of Nations is Samuel Eto'o from Cameroon, who scored a total of 18 goals in the tournament. He is followed by Laurent Pokou from Ivory Coast, who scored 14 goals.

Best Eleven of All Time:

There have been many great players who have played in the African Cup of Nations over the years. Here is a possible best eleven of all time:

Goalkeeper: Essam El-Hadary (Egypt)

Defenders: Rigobert Song (Cameroon), Noureddine Naybet (Morocco), Lucas Radebe (South Africa), Stephen Keshi (Nigeria)

Midfielders: Abedi Pele (Ghana), Jay-Jay Okocha (Nigeria), Roger Milla (Cameroon)

Forwards: Samuel Eto'o (Cameroon), Didier Drogba (Ivory Coast), Hossam Hassan (Egypt)

Future:

The future of the African Cup of Nations looks bright. The tournament continues to grow in popularity, and there are plans to expand the competition to include more teams. This will provide more opportunities for African footballers to showcase their talent on the international stage, and will make the tournament even more exciting for fans around the world.