Africa Cup of Nations, 2019

  • This was the 32nd edition of the Africa Cup of Nations. It is Africa's largest sports event and is the third largest football competition in the world after the FIFA World Cup and the UEFA European Championship.
  • Total continued as the title sponsor as part of its eight-year partnership with the Confederation of African Football (CAF).
  • Following a decision by the CAF Executive Committee on 20 July 2017, the final tournament was held in June/July 2019 so moving from a January/February tournament for the first time.
  • It was also the first Africa Cup of Nations finals tournament to be expanded from 16 to 24 teams.
  • A total of 51 teams entered the competition. The draw for the qualifications stage took place on 12 January 2017 in Libreville, Gabon.
  • Madagascar, Mauritania and Burundi reached the final stage for the first time.
  • It was also the first AFCON to be held in North Africa since 2006.
  • The tournament was due to be hosted by title holders Cameroon for the first time since 1972.
  • Due to delays in preparation, Cameroon was stripped of hosting the tournament on 30 November 2018.
  • On 8 January 2019, Egypt was chosen by the CAF Executive Committee as the host nation. Games were played in Cairo, Alexandria, Ismailia and Suez.
  • The Egyptian Football Association confirmed that video assistant referees (VARs) would be introduced to the competition for the first time from the quarter-finals onwards.
  • Egypt were considered to be the clear favourites to win the clinch the title for the first time since 2010 with Senegal, Ghana and Ivory Coast seen as the most likely semi-finalists.