Yes, Egypt has won the African Cup of Nations 7 times, making them the most successful team in the tournament’s history. Egypt first won the African Cup of Nations in 1957, when the tournament was known as the African Cup of Nations Championship. Since then, they have gone on to win the tournament in 1959, 1986, 1998, 2006, 2008, and 2010.
Here is a quick overview of Egypt’s record in the African Cup of Nations:
- Total titles: 7 (1957, 1959, 1986, 1998, 2006, 2008, 2010)
- Runners up: 2 (1962, 2017)
- Third place finishes: 4 (1963, 1970, 1974, 1980)
- Top scorer: Hossam Hassan with 14 goals
- Most appearances: Ahmed Hassan with 184 caps
Egypt’s 7 titles is far more than any other African nation. The next most successful teams are Ghana and Cameroon with 4 titles each. Egypt has also reached the final more than any other country, appearing in 9 finals in total.
When did Egypt win their first African Cup of Nations?
Egypt won their first African Cup of Nations title in 1957. The tournament was held in Sudan, with only 4 teams participating – Egypt, Sudan, Ethiopia, and South Africa. Egypt defeated hosts Sudan in the semi-final 2-1, and then beat Ethiopia 4-0 in the final held in Khartoum.
The key players of Egypt’s first African Cup of Nations winning team included:
- Mohamed Diab El Attar (captain)
- Raafat Attia
- Mohamed Latif
- Abdelrahman Fawzi
- Abdelaziz Abdallah
Egypt’s first title came under the management of Mohamed El Gendy and Mahmoud El Gohary. It marked the start of Egypt’s dominance over African football.
When did Egypt win their most recent African Cup of Nations title?
Egypt’s most recent African Cup of Nations title came in 2010. The tournament was hosted by Angola. Egypt defeated Ghana 1-0 in the final, with Mohamed Nagy scoring the only goal in the 85th minute.
The key players of Egypt’s 2010 African Cup of Nations winning team included:
- Ahmed Hassan (captain)
- Mohamed Aboutrika
- Mohamed Zidan
- Mohamed Abdelwahab
- Ahmed Fathy
This was Egypt’s 7th title, cementing their status as the most successful nation in African Cup of Nations history. The 2010 title was won under the management of Hassan Shehata.
Who is Egypt’s all-time leading goalscorer in the African Cup of Nations?
Egypt’s all-time leading goalscorer in the African Cup of Nations is Hossam Hassan. Hassan scored 14 goals over 7 editions of the tournament between 1986 to 2006.
Here are the top 5 goalscorers for Egypt at the African Cup of Nations:
| Player | Goals |
|---|---|
| Hossam Hassan | 14 |
| Mahmoud El Khatib | 9 |
| Ahmed Hassan | 8 |
| Aboutrika | 8 |
| Emmanuel Amuneke | 6 |
Hossam Hassan played in 7 African Cup of Nations from 1986 to 2006. His goals helped Egypt win the tournament in 1986, 1998 and 2006. He scored 4 goals in the 1998 edition. His 14 goals is the 3rd most by any player in African Cup of Nations history, behind only Samuel Eto’o (18 goals) and Patrick Mboma (15).
Which player has made the most appearances for Egypt at the African Cup of Nations?
The player with the most appearances for Egypt at the African Cup of Nations is Ahmed Hassan. Hassan represented Egypt in 8 editions of the tournament from 1990 to 2010. He made a total of 184 appearances across those tournaments.
Here are the players with the most appearances for Egypt at the African Cup of Nations:
| Player | Appearances |
|---|---|
| Ahmed Hassan | 184 |
| Hossam Hassan | 169 |
| Ibrahim Hassan | 107 |
| Wael Gomaa | 104 |
| Hany Ramzy | 98 |
Ahmed Hassan’s 184 appearances is the most by any player in African Cup of Nations history. He helped Egypt win the tournament 4 times during his career, in 1998, 2006, 2008 and 2010. The midfielder also captained Egypt to their 2010 title triumph.
What is Egypt’s best ever performance at the African Cup of Nations?
Egypt’s best performance at the African Cup of Nations came in 2010, when they won their 3rd consecutive title.
At the 2010 edition held in Angola, Egypt:
- Went undefeated in 6 matches
- Scored 15 goals
- Conceded only 2 goals
- Beat Cameroon 1-0 in the semifinal
- Beat Ghana 1-0 in the final, with Mohamed Nagy scoring the winner
This was Egypt’s 7th African Cup of Nations title. It marked an unprecedented achievement, as they became the first nation to win 3 consecutive African Cup of Nations tournaments.
Egypt’s team in 2010 is considered one of the greatest African national teams of all time. They were expertly marshalled by coach Hassan Shehata and captain Ahmed Hassan. Key players included Mohamed Aboutrika, Gedo and Mohamed Zidan in attack, and a solid backline featuring Ahmed Fathy and Wael Gomaa.
When did Egypt make their African Cup of Nations debut?
Egypt made their African Cup of Nations debut in 1957, when they hosted the first edition of the tournament.
4 teams participated in the inaugural African Cup of Nations in 1957 – Egypt, Sudan, Ethiopia and South Africa.
Egypt won their opening match 4-0 against Ethiopia, with Mahmoud El Gohary scoring twice. In the final, they defeated co-hosts Sudan 2-1 after extra time to win their maiden African Cup of Nations title.
The 1957 tournament featured a round-robin format instead of the knockout format used today. Egypt topped the round-robin table with 2 wins from 2 matches to be crowned African champions.
How many times has Egypt hosted the African Cup of Nations?
Egypt has hosted the African Cup of Nations 4 times. Here are the details:
- 1957 – Egypt hosted the inaugural African Cup of Nations as a round-robin tournament featuring 4 teams. Egypt won the title.
- 1959 – Egypt hosted again as a round-robin tournament with 3 teams. Egypt defended their title.
- 1974 – Egypt hosted the 8 team tournament, but failed to advance past the group stage.
- 2006 – The tournament expanded to 16 teams, with Egypt beating Ivory Coast on penalties in the final to lift their 5th title.
In total, Egypt has hosted the African Cup of Nations 5 times if you include the cancelled 1996 edition. The 1996 tournament was due to be held in Egypt but was cancelled due to lack of sponsors.
What is Egypt’s overall win-loss record at the African Cup of Nations?
Here is a summary of Egypt’s overall win-loss record at the African Cup of Nations:
- Tournaments: 24
- Matches Played: 169
- Wins: 99
- Draws: 41
- Losses: 29
This gives Egypt an impressive win percentage of 59% across 24 editions of the African Cup of Nations since 1957. They have won the tournament 7 times and lost 29 matches overall. Egypt also has the distinction of being the only African team to never lose a group stage match at the tournament.
What was Egypt’s worst performance at the African Cup of Nations?
Egypt’s worst performance at the African Cup of Nations came in 2004, when they finished bottom of their group without scoring a single goal.
At the 2004 tournament held in Tunisia, Egypt lost all 3 of their Group C games:
- Lost 2-1 to Algeria
- Lost 3-0 to Cameroon
- Lost 1-0 to Zimbabwe
This was the only time Egypt failed to score a goal at the group stage. Their star-studded team featuring Ahmed Hassan, Mohamed Aboutrika and Mido underperformed heavily. It was a huge disappointment for Egypt, considering they entered the tournament as defending champions after winning the 1998 and 2006 editions.
Key reasons for Egypt’s poor performance in 2004:
- Internal divisions and disputes between players and coach
- Key players injured or in poor form
- Tactical issues – struggled to break down opponents
- Lack of motivation after previous successes
The early exit in 2004 prompted some major changes, paving the way for Egypt’s resurgence by winning three consecutive African Cup of Nations titles between 2006 and 2010.
Who is Egypt’s current head coach?
As of November 2022, Egypt’s current head coach is Rui Vitória. The 53-year-old Portuguese manager was appointed in September 2022.
Rui Vitória previously managed several major clubs such as Benfica, Spartak Moscow and Al Nassr. He led Benfica to 3 league titles during his time there.
Vitória’s first matches in charge of Egypt will come in November 2022, with friendly matches scheduled against Belgium and Liberia.
He will lead Egypt into the 2023 African Cup of Nations being held in Ivory Coast. Egypt will be looking to add to their record 7 titles and bounce back from a disappointing round of 16 exit in the 2021 edition.
What is Egypt’s squad for the upcoming 2023 African Cup of Nations?
Egypt’s squad for the 2023 African Cup of Nations has not been officially announced yet by head coach Rui Vitória. The final 23-man squad will be named closer to the tournament kick-off in January 2023.
However, here is the provisional squad called up for Egypt’s friendly matches in November 2022:
| Position | Player | Club |
|---|---|---|
| Goalkeepers | Mohamed El Shenawy | Al Ahly |
| Goalkeepers | Mohamed Abou Gabal | Zamalek |
| Defenders | Ahmed Fatouh | Al Ahly |
| Defenders | Mahmoud Hamdy | Zamalek |
| Defenders | Mahmoud Alaa | Zamalek |
| Defenders | Ahmed Hegazy | Al Ittihad |
| Midfielders | Amr El Soleya | Al Ahly |
| Midfielders | Emam Ashour | Zamalek |
| Midfielders | Abdallah El Said | Pyramids FC |
| Forwards | Mohamed Salah | Liverpool |
| Forwards | Mostafa Mohamed | Galatasaray |
Egypt will be expected to name their strongest possible squad for the 2023 tournament as they aim to win an 8th African Cup of Nations title.
Conclusion
Egypt’s record at the African Cup of Nations stands as the benchmark for all African teams. Their total of 7 titles is unparalleled, having first won the tournament in 1957. Egyptian legends like Hossam Hassan, Ahmed Hassan and Mohamed Aboutrika have led the Pharaohs to numerous successes.
Recent struggles have seen Egypt failing to add to their trophy haul. But with talented players like Mohamed Salah and experienced new coach Rui Vitória, hopes are high for Egypt to challenge for an 8th African crown at the 2023 tournament.
