The first edition of the African Cup of Nations was staged in the Sudanese capital Khartoum in 1959 with 3 out of the 4 teams registered Sudan, Egypt and Ethiopia taking part.

South Africa was refused participation, because of its socially discrimination policy of Apartheid, which made it impossible for the country to present a multi-social team. These four (4) nations Sudan, Ethiopia, Egypt and South Africa, founded the Confederation of African football. Egypt won the first African Nations Cup trophy after beating Sudan and Ethiopia 2-1 and 4-1 respectively.

Two years later the same three countries again assembled in egypt for the second edition of the competition with Egypt taking the honours yet again. The third edition in 1962 had a new host in Ethiopia. By now membership in CAF has grown to nine countries, and an elimination series was needed to decide the last four.

This was the birth of the African Nations Cup qualifying series. In that inaugural elimination series, Tunisia knocked out Morocco, Nigeria and Ghana, while Uganda accounted for Sudan and Kenya. Tunisia and Uganda joined defending champions, Egypt and hosts Ethiopia in the final tournament. Ethiopia as hosts eventually won the trophy.

This brief rundown on the history of the African Cup of Nations was provided by Mr Ebrima Jeng, Commissioner for Oaths, Land Surveyor. Read our subsequent editions for more from him.