AFCON is a football tournament known for its intensity and unpredictability. Every edition brings moments of triumph, heartbreak, and shocking upsets. While some teams enter as favorites, others arrive quietly, underestimated by fans. Yet time and again, these underdogs defy expectations, producing performances that capture the imagination of the continent and leave lasting memories in AFCON history. The tournament has proven that anything can happen on African soil!
Zambia’s Emotional Triumph – 2012
We open this article with Zambia, who entered the tournament with few star players and relatively low expectations. One key element that made their journey especially emotional was the fact that the final was held in Gabon, near the site of the 1993 plane crash that tragically killed the entire Zambian national team.
They defeated tournament favourites Ivory Coast in the final after a dramatic penalty shootout (8-7). A true fairy-tale ending and one of football’s most touching underdog victories.
Madagascar’s Historic Run – 2019
When mentioning underdogs, we could not miss talking about Madagascar. It was the country’s first appearance at AFCON in history. Ranked outside the world’s top 100, many people were expecting them to go out in the group stage. Instead, they topped a group that included Nigeria.
The small force advanced to the quarterfinals, beating DR Congo on penalties in the Round of 16. This run shocked the continent and made them a fan favourite!
Burkina Faso’s Surprise Finalists – 2013
Burkina Faso’s team had very limited resources and no major superstars playing in their ranks. Nonetheless, the team went all the way to the final. For context, Burkina Faso finished bottom of their group just a year earlier in 2012. In 2013, they stunned teams with their fast, fearless style of play! Jonathan Pitroipa and Aristide Bancé suddenly became cult heroes. They reached the final, narrowly losing to Nigeria, but their run remains one of AFCON’s biggest surprises.
Ivory Coast’s Ultimate AFCON Comeback – 2024
During the group stage, Ivory Coast lost 4-0 at home, the worst home defeat for a host in AFCON history. That result looked like a disaster for their tournament hopes.
To make matters worse, their coach was dismissed. Replaced with an inexperienced interim coach, Emerse Faé, very few gave the team a realistic chance of revival. Ivory Coast then advanced from their group only as one of the best third-placed teams, a path rarely associated with eventual champions.
Once in the knockouts, they survived several tight matches against defending champions Senegal, Mali and DR Congo. And the final was equally tense, as they came from behind to beat Nigeria 2-1. Sébastien Haller scored the late winner that sealed what many have called a “fairytale comeback”!
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