The Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) is the most prestigious football tournament on the African continent. It has been held every two years since its inception in 1957, with the exception of a few years when it was moved to odd-numbered years to avoid clashing with the World Cup. This tournament brings together the best national teams from across Africa to compete for the title of African champion.

AFCON has a rich history, filled with unforgettable moments and legendary players. Many of the world's most talented footballers have played in this tournament over the years, leaving their mark on the competition and earning worldwide recognition for their skills. Let's take a look at some of the highlights of AFCON's history.

Best Players That Have Ever Played in AFCON

Jay-Jay Okocha: The Nigerian midfielder was one of the most skillful players to ever grace the AFCON stage. He won the tournament twice with Nigeria in 1994 and 2013 and was named the tournament's best player in 2004.

Samuel Eto'o: The Cameroonian striker was a dominant force in African football during his playing days. He won the tournament twice with Cameroon in 2000 and 2002, and he was named the tournament's best player in both years.

Didier Drogba: The Ivorian striker is one of the most iconic players in African football history. He led Côte d'Ivoire to their first-ever AFCON title in 1992 and helped them win it again in 2015. He scored a total of 11 goals in AFCON tournaments throughout his career.

All-Time 11 in the Competitions

Goalkeeper: Essam El-Hadary (Egypt)

Defenders: Rigobert Song (Cameroon), Lucas Radebe (South Africa), Noureddine Naybet (Morocco), Ahmed Hassan (Egypt)

Midfielders: Yaya Toure (Côte d'Ivoire), Jay-Jay Okocha (Nigeria), Abedi Pele (Ghana)

Forwards: Samuel Eto'o (Cameroon), Roger Milla (Cameroon), Didier Drogba (Côte d'Ivoire)

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Top Scorers

Samuel Eto'o (Cameroon) - 18 goals

Laurent Pokou (Côte d'Ivoire) - 14 goals

Didier Drogba (Côte d'Ivoire) - 11 goals

Rashidi Yekini (Nigeria) - 10 goals

Hossam Hassan (Egypt) - 9 goals

Derbies

The North African derby between Egypt and Algeria is one of the most intense rivalries in African football. The two teams have faced each other 21 times in AFCON tournaments, with Egypt winning 10 times and Algeria winning 8 times.

The West African derby between Ghana and Nigeria is also a highly anticipated match. The two teams have faced each other 12 times in AFCON tournaments, with Ghana winning 4 times and Nigeria winning 3 times.

Country with Most Wins

Egypt is the most successful country in AFCON history, having won the tournament a record 7 times. They have also finished as runners-up on 4 occasions.

AFCON continues to grow in popularity and importance, with more and more top African players competing in the tournament each year. The 2023 edition of the tournament is set to be hosted by Côte d