Only seven countries have utilized their home advantage to win the competition in the 65-year history of the African Cup of Nations (AFCON). Some have won and hosted the AFCON on multiple occasions, while others have won it once. Here are the seven national teams.
1. Egypt (1959, 1986, and 2006)
The Egyptian national team is the most successful nation in the history of the tournament, winning the tournament seven times. However, the Pharaohs have won it three times when they were hosts. Their first AFCON triumph came in 1959 when Egypt was united with Syria as the United Arab Republic. They hosted and won the second edition of the tournament.
In the 1986 African Cup of Nations, Egypt won the AFCON after beating Cameroon on penalty kicks in the final. Egypt hosted the African Cup of Nations in 2006 for the third time and won their fifth championship. However, they were unable to lift the trophy in 2019 when they hosted the tournament after suffering elimination at the hands of South Africa.
2. Ethiopia (1962)
Ethiopia won the third edition of the Africa Cup of Nations and also the first in their history. It was still during the early years of the tournament, and only four teams took part in the AFCON. Egypt, Ethiopia, Tunisia, and Uganda all played in the competition, which Ethiopia won on their soil. The Walia Ibex beat Egypt in the final after two extra-time goals.
3. Ghana (1963 and 1978)
The Black Stars of Ghana have hosted the African Cup of Nations four times. They hosted and won the fourth edition of the Africa Cup of Nations after thrashing Sudan 3-0 in 1963. Furthermore, In 1978, the AFCON was staged in Ghana, and the hosts clinched the trophy, beating Uganda 2-0 in the final.
However, they did not win the AFCON when they co-hosted it with Nigeria in 2000 and when they hosted it in 2008.
4. Nigeria (1980)
Nigeria's first AFCON triumph came when they hosted the tournament in 1980. The two venues selected for the competition were in Lagos and Ibadan. The Super Eagles had an amazing tournament and beat almost all the opponents they came up against. In the final, Nigeria defeated Algeria 3-0 to lift the prestigious trophy. However, when they co-hosted the tournament with Ghana in 2000, they lost to Cameroon in the final.
5. Algeria (1990)
Like Nigeria, Algeria also won their first AFCON when they defeated Nigeria in the final 1–0 in 1990. That was the last time Algeria hosted the AFCON, but not the only time they won the competition. The Desert Warriors claimed the AFCON in 2019 and are currently the defending champions going into the 2021 AFCON.
6. South Africa (1996)
South Africa won their only AFCON trophy in 1996 when they were hosts. That year marked the first time that the AFCON was expanded to 16 teams. However, huge favourites Nigeria withdrew from the tournament. Bafana Bafana defeated Tunisia 2-0 in the final and won the tournament. However, when they hosted in 2013, they were not victorious.
7. Tunisia (2004)
Tunisia also won their only AFCON when they hosted it. They had previously hosted the tournament twice in 1965 and 1994 but did not win it on either occasion. They finally won in it 2004, which was the 24th edition of the Africa Cup of Nations. After seeing off Morocco 2–1 in the final, Tunisia lifted the trophy.