As Morocco kick off their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations campaign on home soil, history once again places the spotlight on a powerful trend in African football: host nations often go all the way.
Since the tournament’s inception, several countries have successfully combined home advantage, fan support, and tactical confidence to lift the AFCON trophy in front of their own supporters.
Below is a detailed chronological record of every time that has happened.
AFCON Host Nations That Won the Title
1959 – Egypt (United Arab Republic)
Egypt hosted the tournament and claimed the title, setting an early precedent for host dominance.
1962 – Ethiopia
Ethiopia lifted their only AFCON trophy after hosting the competition.
1963 – Ghana
Playing at home, Ghana secured continental glory and strengthened their early dominance in African football.
1972 – Cameroon
Cameroon won their first AFCON title on home soil, launching their rise as a continental powerhouse.
1978 – Ghana
Hosting once again proved decisive as Ghana won their third AFCON title at home.
1980 – Nigeria
Nigeria claimed their maiden AFCON title in Lagos, backed by massive home support.
1986 – Egypt
Egypt lifted the trophy in Cairo, beginning an era that would later make them the most successful AFCON nation.
1990 – Algeria
Algeria hosted and won the tournament, defeating Nigeria in the final.
1996 – South Africa
In their first AFCON appearance after readmission, South Africa hosted and won the title — one of the competition’s most remarkable stories.
2004 – Tunisia
Tunisia captured their first and only AFCON title on home soil.
2023 – Ivory Coast
Despite an unstable group stage, Ivory Coast rallied dramatically and went on to win AFCON as hosts — the most recent example of home advantage delivering success.
What This Means for Morocco in 2025
Morocco have never won the Africa Cup of Nations as hosts, but history suggests that home soil significantly increases the odds.
Combined with their tactical maturity, European-based core, and confidence drawn from a historic 2022 FIFA World Cup run, the Atlas Lions enter AFCON 2025 as genuine title contenders.
While traditional heavyweights such as Ghana, Nigeria, and South Africa remain capable of disrupting any campaign, the weight of history and current form places Morocco firmly among the favourites.
If the pattern holds, AFCON 2025 could see Morocco join the elite list of host nations that transformed opportunity into continental triumph
