The Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) is the continent's premier footballing spectacle, where glory is defined by the champions who lift the coveted trophy. However, for many teams, securing third place—the bronze medal—represents a significant achievement, a testament to resilience after the heartbreak of missing the final.
The third-place playoff has evolved over AFCON's rich history, often serving as a crucial psychological battleground. While the final garners the most attention, the bronze medal match reflects a team's ability to recover, regroup, and end their tournament on a high note. Since the inaugural tournament in 1957, numerous nations have etched their names into this historical record.
Nigeria: The Unmatched Bronze Medal Stalwarts
No nation has demonstrated more consistency in claiming the third spot than Nigeria. The Super Eagles have consistently featured in the latter stages of the tournament, often securing the bronze medal when the ultimate prize eluded them.
Nigeria’s bronze medal haul is extensive, showcasing their enduring presence in African football's elite. Their most recent success came in 2025 in Morocco, where they edged out Egypt in a tense penalty shootout following the bronze medal match. This continued a trend seen in 2019 (beating Tunisia) and earlier successes in 2010, 2006, 2004, 2002, and 1992.
Perhaps one of the most notable mentions for the Super Eagles was the 1976 tournament in Ethiopia. Due to the format at the time—a final group stage rather than a direct playoff—Nigeria finished third in the standings, securing their place on the podium without a dedicated bronze medal match.
A History of Bronze: Chronological Milestones
Tracing the lineage of AFCON bronze medal winners reveals shifting power dynamics and the rise and fall of continental giants.
Recent Decades: Penalties and Resilience
The modern era of AFCON is often characterised by tightly contested matches, frequently decided by the nerve-wracking lottery of penalties. The 2023 tournament in Côte d’Ivoire saw South Africa secure their spot on the podium by defeating DR Congo on penalties, marking their first return to the medals since 2000.
Cameroon, the Indomitable Lions, demonstrated home-crowd power at the 2021 tournament, coming from behind to defeat Burkina Faso in the third-place encounter. Burkina Faso themselves have a memorable bronze run, succeeding in 2017 after a dramatic penalty shootout victory over Ghana.
The Early Years and Emerging Powers
The history books also highlight the achievements of nations that proved their mettle early on. Côte d’Ivoire features prominently, securing bronze in 1994 and 1986. Zambia also boasts a strong legacy, claiming third place in 1990, 1982, and 1996.
Algeria, another African heavyweight, secured multiple bronze medals in the 1980s, notably in 1988, 1984, and 1982. Morocco also claimed third place on home soil in 1980, defeating Egypt in the playoff.
The Evolving Format and Bronze Glory
It is important to note that the method of determining the third-place finisher has varied. While most modern tournaments feature a dedicated third-place playoff match, earlier editions, such as the 1976 tournament, utilised a round-robin final group stage format where final standings determined the medalists.
The bronze medal match, regardless of the format, remains a crucial barometer for national teams. It offers players a chance to redeem themselves after semi-final disappointment and provides fans with a final moment of celebration. As AFCON continues to grow in stature, these historical markers—the bronze winners—provide context to the continent’s evolving football narrative.
For every nation listed below, achieving third place signifies a tournament campaign that ended with a tangible reward, cementing their place in the annals of African football history.
A Roll Call of Bronze Conquerors (Since 1957)
The definitive list showcases the dedication required to reach the podium:
- 2025: Nigeria (vs. Egypt, penalties)
- 2023: South Africa (vs. DR Congo, penalties)
- 2021: Cameroon (vs. Burkina Faso)
- 2019: Nigeria (vs. Tunisia)
- 2017: Burkina Faso (vs. Ghana, penalties)
- 2015: DR Congo (vs. Equatorial Guinea)
- 2013: Mali (vs. Ghana)
- 2012: Mali (vs. Ghana)
- 2010: Nigeria (vs. Algeria)
- 2008: Ghana (vs. Côte d’Ivoire)
- 2006: Nigeria (vs. Senegal)
- 2004: Nigeria (vs. Mali, penalties)
- 2002: Nigeria (vs. Mali)
- 2000: South Africa (vs. Algeria)
- 1998: DR Congo (vs. Burkina Faso)
- 1996: Zambia (vs. Ghana)
- 1994: Côte d’Ivoire (vs. Mali)
- 1992: Nigeria (vs. Cameroon)
- 1990: Zambia (vs. Senegal)
- 1988: Algeria (vs. Morocco)
- 1986: Côte d’Ivoire (vs. Morocco)
- 1984: Algeria (vs. Nigeria)
- 1982: Zambia (vs. Algeria)
- 1980: Morocco (vs. Egypt)
- 1978: Nigeria (vs. Ghana)
- 1976: Nigeria (Final Group Standings)
- 1974: Egypt (Final Group Standings)
- 1972: Cameroon
This record highlights Nigeria's unparalleled consistency, having secured the bronze medal ten times across various formats and eras. As the tournament continues to evolve, future editions promise new contenders vying to join this distinguished list of third-place finishers.
