AFCON 2025: These surprises from the last editions

Each Africa Cup of Nations has its share of surprises. Unexpected teams achieve an unprecedented journey. Sport News Africa, without being exhaustive, reveals the surprising performances of previous editions of the competition.

The victory of Zambia at AFCON 2012
This is the big achievement of the last 20 years in the Africa Cup of Nations. Zambia came out of nowhere to win the 2012 CAN, in Gabon. 

Eliminated in the quarter-finals on penalties by Nigeria at the 2010 edition, in Angola, Zambia touched the grail two years later. With the tactician Hervé Renard on the bench, Chipolopolo beat all the predictions, by finally winning against Ivory Coast at the end of a final with twists and turns. 

Despite the presence of the offensive armada of the Elephants embodied by Didier Drogba, Côte d'Ivoire has fallen on a real bone. The Zambians have left no space for the Ivorians to develop their football. The Chipolopolo won the AFCON 2012 after an endless penalty shoot-out (8-7), at the Angondjé stadium in Libreville.

Burkina Faso, finalist at the AFCON 2013
After Zambia in 2012, Burkina Faso almost created the same feat. Stallions were not expected as favorites but, they went all the way to the final, beating Togo (1-0) in the quarter-finals and Ghana in the semi-finals (1-1, 3-2 after penalties).

Carried by a Jonathan Pitroipa and Alain Traoré in very good shape, Burkina Faso finally stumbled against Nigeria in the final. The Super Eagles won on the smallest of margins (1-0). The only goal of the match was scored by Sunday Mba in the 40th minute. The Stallions ran behind this single achievement until the final whistle, at the FNB Stadium in Johannesburg, South Africa.

Benin brings down Morocco at the 2019 AFCON
Benin was the sensation of the AFCON 2019. No one expected the Squirrels, which have become Cheetahs in recent years. But, Michael Poté, Stéphane Sessegnon and the others have made a historic journey. For the first time, the Beninese team passed the groups. 

After three draws in Group F against Ghana (2-2), Cameroon (0-0) and Guinea-Bissau (0-0), Benin qualifies for the next round, being part of the 4 best third. In the round of sixteen, the Guépards eliminated Morocco, the great favorite of this meeting. They outshot the Atlas Lions (4-1), at the Al Salam stadium in Cairo. The great adventure stopped in the quarter-finals after the defeat (1-0) against Senegal, at the stadium on June 30 in Cairo. 

The heroic journey of The Gambia at AFCON 2021
For its first participation in the competition, Gambia surprised more than many. At the competition in Cameroon, the Scorpions went to the quarter-finals. They were eliminated by the host country Cameroon in what was almost the match of the competition.
After two wins and a draw in group F, Gambia finished second and qualified for the knockout phase. In the last 16, the Gambian selection eliminated Guinea (1-0). In the quarter-finals, the market was very high for them. The Scorpions were stopped by the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon (2-0). 

South Africa, 3rd of the AFCON 2023
Back at the competition during the 2023 edition after missing that of 2021, South Africa finished 3rd. The Bafana Bafana recorded convincing results, to everyone’s surprise. They bet on an oiled collective set up by the coach Hugo Broos. 

Having finished 2nd in group E with 4 points, South Africa gained momentum in the second round. Bafana Bafana defeated (2-0) Morocco, to the great surprise, in the eighth final. In the quarter-finals, Hugo Broos' men took out Cape Verde after a very tense match (victory in the penalty shootout 2-1). Fallen in front of Nigeria in the semi-finals, the South African selection recovered by winning the perking order match against DRC (0-0, 6-5 on penalties).