AFCON Shocks: Four Unforgettable Upsets
The Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) is the continent’s premier football tournament, renowned for its unpredictable nature and capacity to deliver moments of stunning drama. While powerhouses like Egypt and Cameroon often dominate, the competition’s history is littered with seismic upsets.
Zambia’s Triumph of Destiny (2012):
Arguably the greatest fairytale in AFCON history. The Chipolopolo, led by coach Hervé Renard, were heavy underdogs against a star-studded Ivory Coast team featuring Didier Drogba.
The final was held in Libreville, Gabon, the same city where, 19 years earlier in 1993, the plane carrying the Zambian “Golden Generation” crashed, killing 18 players.
Driven by a desire to honour their fallen heroes, Zambia held the Elephants to a 0-0 draw after extra time and won the dramatic penalty shootout 8-7, sealing their first-ever continental title at the site of their greatest tragedy.
Comoros Sinks the Black Stars (2021):
The 2021 tournament (played in 2022) saw Ghana, four-time champions and perennial contenders, knocked out in the group stage by the tiny island nation of Comoros. Making their AFCON debut, Comoros defeated Ghana 3-2 in a chaotic match where the Black Stars played for much of the game with ten men.
The loss condemned Ghana to finish bottom of their group with just one point, while Comoros advanced to the knockout stages, confirming one of the most humiliating exits for a major African team.
Madagascar Tops Nigeria (2019):
In their debut appearance at the finals, Madagascar produced an astonishing run that defied all expectations. The pinnacle of their group stage success came with a shock 2-0 victory over three-time champions, Nigeria.
The result allowed the debutants to finish at the top of Group B ahead of the Super Eagles and subsequently reach the quarter-finals. The tiny island nation, then ranked 108th in the world, captivated the tournament and inspired countless football fans globally.
Equatorial Guinea Stuns Algeria (2021):
Going into the 2021 tournament, Algeria was not only the defending champion but also held an incredible 35-match unbeaten international streak. That record was obliterated in the group stage by Equatorial Guinea, ranked 114th in the world, who won 1-0.
This shock loss critically destabilized the champions, who went on to finish bottom of their group with just one point from nine, capping off one of the most unexpected title defence failures in AFCON memory.
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