Cameroon at the Africa Cup of Nations: five titles and every appearance
With five titles, Cameroon are the second most successful nation in Africa Cup of Nations history, behind Egypt (seven). They have played in 22 finals tournaments between 1970 and 2025, hosted two (1972 and 2021) and boast the competition's all-time top scorer, Samuel Eto'o. This page details the five wins, every appearance, the lost finals and the latest edition, in Morocco.
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At a glance
- Titles
- 5: 1984, 1988, 2000, 2002, 2017
- Lost finals
- 1986 and 2008, both to Egypt
- Appearances
- 22 (from 1970 to 2025)
- Editions hosted
- 1972 and 2021 (third both times)
- Top scorer
- Samuel Eto'o, 18 goals, the competition record
- Latest AFCON
- 2025 in Morocco: quarter-final
The five titles
| Year | Host | Final | Coach | Standout players |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1984 | Ivory Coast | 3-1 v Nigeria, in Abidjan (N'Djeya, Abega, EbonguĂ©) | Radivoje OgnjanoviÄ | ThĂ©ophile Abega, best player |
| 1988 | Morocco | 1-0 v Nigeria, in Casablanca (Kundé penalty) | Claude Le Roy | Roger Milla, best player and joint top scorer (2 goals) |
| 2000 | Ghana and Nigeria | 2-2, then 4-3 on penalties v Nigeria, in Lagos | Pierre Lechantre | Lauren, best player; Eto'o (4 goals) and Mboma up front |
| 2002 | Mali | 0-0, then 3-2 on penalties v Senegal, in Bamako | Winfried SchÀfer | Rigobert Song, best player; Mboma and Olembé joint top scorers (3) |
| 2017 | Gabon | 2-1 v Egypt, in Libreville (Aboubakar winner) | Hugo Broos | Vincent Aboubakar, scorer in the final |
The 2000-2002 double remains the golden era: in 2002 Cameroon won their first five games without conceding, including a 3-0 semi-final against hosts Mali, before beating Senegal on penalties. The 2017 title was the most unexpected: Hugo Broos's side finished second in their group, knocked out Senegal on penalties (0-0, 5-4) and then Ghana (2-0), and beat Egypt in the final on 5 February 2017 with a late Vincent Aboubakar goal. It was their first continental title since 2002.
Every appearance
| Year | Host | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | Sudan | Group stage (two wins, out on goal difference) |
| 1972 | Cameroon | Third (lost 0-1 to Congo in the semis, beat Zaire 5-2 for third place) |
| 1982 | Libya | Group stage (three draws) |
| 1984 | Ivory Coast | Winners |
| 1986 | Egypt | Runners-up (0-0, 4-5 on penalties to Egypt, in Cairo) |
| 1988 | Morocco | Winners |
| 1990 | Algeria | Group stage |
| 1992 | Senegal | Fourth (lost to Ivory Coast on penalties in the semis) |
| 1996 | South Africa | Group stage |
| 1998 | Burkina Faso | Quarter-final (DR Congo) |
| 2000 | Ghana and Nigeria | Winners |
| 2002 | Mali | Winners |
| 2004 | Tunisia | Quarter-final (Nigeria) |
| 2006 | Egypt | Quarter-final (Ivory Coast, 11-12 on penalties), unbeaten |
| 2008 | Ghana | Runners-up (0-1 to Egypt, in Accra) |
| 2010 | Angola | Quarter-final (Egypt, 1-3 aet) |
| 2015 | Equatorial Guinea | Group stage (bottom of the group, no wins) |
| 2017 | Gabon | Winners |
| 2019 | Egypt | Round of 16 (Nigeria, 2-3) |
| 2021 (played in 2022) | Cameroon | Third |
| 2023 (played in 2024) | Ivory Coast | Round of 16 (Nigeria, 0-2) |
| 2025 (played in 2025-2026) | Morocco | Quarter-final (Morocco, 0-2) |
The 2019 AFCON was due to be held in Cameroon, but CAF stripped it of hosting rights on 30 November 2018, citing delays in preparations and insecurity in several regions; it was moved to Egypt.
The finals lost to Egypt
Both lost finals were against Egypt, the Lions' recurring rivals. In 1986, at Cairo International Stadium before 95,000 spectators, holders Cameroon, led by Roger Milla, the tournament's top scorer (4 goals) and best player, lost on penalties (0-0, 4-5). In 2008, in Accra, they lost 1-0 after knocking out Tunisia (3-2) and hosts Ghana (1-0). Egypt also eliminated Cameroon in the 2010 quarter-finals and the 2022 semi-finals, before the Lions took revenge in the 2017 final.
The 2021 AFCON in Cameroon: third place
Scheduled for 2021 and postponed by the Covid-19 pandemic, the 2021 AFCON was held in Cameroon from 9 January to 6 February 2022, in six stadiums across five cities: Olembe and Ahmadou Ahidjo in Yaoundé, Japoma in Douala, Limbe, Kouekong in Bafoussam and Roumdé Adjia in Garoua. The organisation of the tournament is covered on the page about competitions hosted by Cameroon.
| Round | Opponent | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Group A | Burkina Faso | 2-1 |
| Group A | Ethiopia | 4-1 |
| Group A | Cape Verde | 1-1 |
| Round of 16 (24 January 2022) | Comoros | 2-1 |
| Quarter-final (29 January) | Gambia | 2-0 (Toko Ekambi x2) |
| Semi-final (3 February) | Egypt | 0-0, 1-3 on penalties |
| Third-place match (5 February) | Burkina Faso | 3-3, 5-3 on penalties |
Vincent Aboubakar finished as top scorer with eight goals. Coach Toni Conceição was dismissed after the tournament by Samuel Eto'o, the new Fecafoot president, and replaced by Rigobert Song. The final, Senegal v Egypt (0-0, 4-2 on penalties), was played at the Olembe stadium.
Cameroonian scorers and records
| Player | Goals | Matches | Tournaments |
|---|---|---|---|
| Samuel Eto'o | 18 (AFCON record) | 29 | 2000, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2008, 2010 |
| Patrick Mboma | 11 | 17 | Including 2000, 2002 and 2004 |
| Vincent Aboubakar | 9 | 16 | Including 2017 and 2021 |
| Roger Milla | 7 | 18 | Including 1986 and 1988 |
- Samuel Eto'o broke the AFCON all-time scoring record in 2008; he was top scorer in 2006 and 2008 (5 goals each time) and scored in six different tournaments, a shared record.
- Rigobert Song played in eight AFCONs (1996 to 2010) and 36 finals matches, two records he shares with other players, including Ghana's André Ayew for matches.
- Other top scorers at a single edition: Roger Milla (1986, 4 goals; 1988, joint top with 2), Patrick Mboma (2002, level with Salomon Olembé; 2004, 4 goals), Vincent Aboubakar (2021, 8 goals).
The 2025 AFCON in Morocco
Cameroon arrived in Morocco in the middle of a crisis: Fecafoot had replaced Marc Brys with David Pagou on 2 December 2025, less than three weeks before the tournament, and the squad left out several senior players. The younger team nevertheless came through its group unbeaten and knocked out South Africa, before losing in the quarter-final to hosts Morocco on 9 January 2026 at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat, in front of more than 60,000 spectators.
| Date and venue | Round | Match | Cameroon scorers |
|---|---|---|---|
| 24 December 2025, Agadir | Group F | Cameroon 1-0 Gabon | Bryan Mbeumo |
| 28 December 2025, Marrakesh | Group F | Ivory Coast 1-1 Cameroon | â |
| 31 December 2025, Agadir | Group F | Mozambique 1-2 Cameroon | Christian Kofane, among others |
| 4 January 2026, Rabat | Round of 16 | South Africa 1-2 Cameroon | Junior Tchamadeu (34th), Christian Kofane (47th) |
| 9 January 2026, Rabat | Quarter-final | Cameroon 0-2 Morocco | â (goals by Brahim DĂaz 26th and Ismael Saibari 74th) |
The next edition, the 2027 AFCON, will be held in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda. Cameroon began qualifying in September 2026 in Group G, with a 3-1 win over the Comoros in Garoua and a 1-1 draw in Congo; they still face Namibia in November 2026.
Frequently asked questions
How many Africa Cup of Nations has Cameroon won?
Five: 1984 in Ivory Coast, 1988 in Morocco, 2000 in Ghana and Nigeria, 2002 in Mali and 2017 in Gabon. Only Egypt, with seven titles, has more.
When did Cameroon last win AFCON?
In 2017 in Gabon, beating Egypt 2-1 in the final on 5 February in Libreville, thanks to a late Vincent Aboubakar goal.
Who is the all-time top scorer at AFCON?
Cameroon's Samuel Eto'o, with 18 goals in 29 matches, scored across six tournaments between 2000 and 2010.
How did the 2025 AFCON end for Cameroon?
With a 2-0 quarter-final defeat by hosts Morocco on 9 January 2026 in Rabat. Cameroon had beaten South Africa 2-1 in the round of 16.
How did Cameroon do at the 2021 AFCON they hosted?
Third: knocked out by Egypt on penalties in the semi-final, they beat Burkina Faso on penalties (3-3, 5-3) in the third-place match on 5 February 2022.
How many times have Cameroon played at AFCON?
22 times, from 1970 to 2025. Their last absences were the 2012 and 2013 editions.
Handle with care
The full list of Cameroonian scorers against Mozambique in 2025, and the complete list of tournaments for Mboma, Aboubakar and Milla, were not verified. Aboubakar's AFCON goal tally (9) comes from a Wikipedia table updated in 2026; he was not in the 2025 squad.