With three days remaining until the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations, Morocco 2025 begins, African football once again turns to a tournament where history weighs heavily on every kick of the ball.
On Sunday, when hosts Morocco face Comoros in Rabat, a new chapter will open — but one written against the backdrop of records forged across nearly 70 years of continental competition.
AFCON has always been a proving ground not just for teams, but for endurance, consistency, dominance and moments of pure brilliance.
Some players defined the tournament by how often they returned. Others did so through goals that changed matches, tournaments — and national narratives.
As 24 nations gather in Morocco with ambition and belief, these records stand as the benchmarks every player will chase, knowingly or not, over the next month.
Most appearances at the Africa Cup of Nations
8 tournaments
Record holders
- Rigobert Song (Cameroon): 1996, 1998, 2000, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2008, 2010
- Ahmed Hassan (Egypt): 1996–2010
- Andre Ayew (Ghana): 2008–2023
- Youssef Msakni (Tunisia): 2010–2023
Appearing at eight AFCON tournaments is a testament to longevity at the highest level of African football. Cameroon’s Rigobert Song and Egypt’s Ahmed Hassan set the early standard, spanning generations of teammates and opponents, while Andre Ayew and Youssef Msakni carried that legacy into the modern era.
Each represented not only their country but an era — surviving tactical evolution, physical demands and rising competition. As Morocco 2025 begins, these four remain the gold standard for durability in African football.
Most matches played at the AFCON finals
36 matches
Record holders
- Rigobert Song (Cameroon)
- Andre Ayew (Ghana)
Beyond appearances, Song and Ayew also share the record for most matches played at AFCON finals, with 36 each. Song’s tally came largely through Cameroon’s sustained success between the late 1990s and early 2000s, while Ayew’s appearances reflect Ghana’s consistency across four different decades.
At national level, Egypt lead all countries with 111 AFCON matches played, underlining their status as the tournament’s most ever-present force.
Most AFCON titles won as a player
4 titles
Record holders
- Ahmed Hassan (Egypt): 1998, 2006, 2008, 2010
- Essam El Hadary (Egypt): 1998, 2006, 2008, 2010
No players symbolise AFCON dominance more than Egypt’s Ahmed Hassan and Essam El Hadary, both central to the Pharaohs’ unprecedented three consecutive titles from 2006 to 2010, having already tasted glory in 1998.
Hassan’s midfield leadership and El Hadary’s presence in goal helped define the most successful era in AFCON history — a level of sustained excellence no nation has matched since.
Most goals scored in a single AFCON tournament
9 goals
Record holder
- Pierre Ndaye Mulamba (DR Congo / Zaire) – 1974
At the 1974 AFCON in Egypt, Mulamba produced a goal-scoring campaign that remains unmatched more than 50 years later. His nine goals powered Zaire to the title, including all four goals across the two-match final replay against Zambia.
Mulamba also claimed the Golden Boot and Player of the Tournament, cementing his place as one of AFCON’s most decisive figures. Every striker arriving in Morocco will know that this is the ultimate individual benchmark.
Most goals scored by an individual in a single AFCON match
5 goals
Record holder
- Laurent Pokou (Côte d’Ivoire) – 1970
During the 1970 AFCON in Ethiopia, Pokou scored five goals in a 6–1 win over the hosts, earning the nickname “L’homme d’Asmara” — the city where the match was played.
It remains the highest individual scoring performance in a single AFCON match, a feat that transformed Pokou into a continental icon overnight.
Highest-scoring match in AFCON history
Egypt 6–3 Nigeria (1963)
Key facts
- Total goals: 9
- Venue: Baba Yara Stadium, Ghana
- Tournament: 1963 AFCON
The most goal-laden match in AFCON history came during the 1963 finals when Egypt defeated Nigeria 6–3. The match remains unique for producing two hat-tricks in the same game, both scored by Egyptians — Hassan El-Shazly and Reda.
It also marked a milestone for Nigeria, with Asuquo Ekpe scoring their first-ever AFCON goal. Even six decades later, no match has surpassed its drama or attacking output.
Fastest goal ever scored at AFCON
23 seconds
Record holder
- Ayman Mansour (Egypt) – 1994
Mansour struck after just 23 seconds against Gabon during the 1994 AFCON in Tunisia, in a match Egypt went on to win 4–0.
As Morocco 2025 begins on Sunday, this is the first record that could fall — a reminder that history can change in the blink of an eye.
Most goals scored in AFCON history
18 goals
Record holder
- Samuel Eto’o (Cameroon)
Across six tournaments between 2000 and 2010, Eto’o became AFCON’s all-time top scorer. He also won two titles and claimed the Golden Boot twice, defining an era of Cameroonian dominance.
His total remains the benchmark for sustained excellence across multiple editions.
Most hat-tricks at the AFCON
2 hat-tricks
Record holder
- Hassan El-Shazly (Egypt)
El-Shazly remains the only player to score two AFCON hat-tricks, both against Nigeria — first in 1963 and again in 1970. His six goals in the 1963 tournament made him top scorer and a central figure in AFCON’s early history.
As Morocco 2025 begins…
When Morocco host Comoros on Sunday, the chase begins again. Some records may fall. Most will endure.
But every match will be played in the shadow of legends who defined what greatness looks like at Africa’s biggest football stage.
SOURCED FROM CAFONLINE.
