CAIRO – With one day remaining until the CAF Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), Morocco 2025 begins, African football once again turns to a tournament where history weighs heavily on every kick of the ball. At national level, Egypt leads all countries with 111 AFCON matches played, underlining their status as the tournament’s most ever-present force.
On Sunday, when hosts Morocco faces 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, cafonline.com reported.
Caps leaders
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 titled players
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.
Fastest goal ever
Egypt’s Ayman 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.
Top scorer
Across six tournaments between 2000 and 2010, Cameroon’s Samuel 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 18 goals remains the benchmark for sustained excellence across multiple editions.
Hat-trick leader
Egypt’s Hassan 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.
When Morocco hosts 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.
