2024 Women's AFCON: All champions since 1991 | OneFootball

A look back at Nigeria's dominance and the rise of new champions in African women's football.

Super Falcons - Nigeria

The 2024 Women's Africa Cup of Nations kicks off this Saturday, July 5, on Moroccan soil. Before we dive into the 15th edition of this continental tournament, let's take a look back at the roll of honour since the competition's inception in 1991.

Since its launch in 1991, the Women's Africa Cup of Nations has seen only three nations crowned champions in thirteen (13) editions. Nigeria leads the way with an astonishing eleven titles, followed by Equatorial Guinea and South Africa.

The Super Falcons era: unrivalled domination

From the very outset of the competition, the Super Falcons of Nigeria imposed their supremacy. Between 1991 and 2006, the Nigerian women gave their adversaries no chance, clinching every edition held during that span. With seven consecutive crowns, they cemented their status as the absolute benchmark in African women's football. These triumphs were propelled by legends like Mercy Akide and Perpetua Nkwocha, the latter finishing top scorer in the 2002, 2004, 2006, and 2010 editions. The 1.80m striker was named African Women's Player of the Year in 2004, 2005, 2010, and 2011.

It wasn't until 2008 that another team finally managed to break the streak. However, Nigeria bounced back in 2010, 2014, 2016, and 2018, amassing a total of 11 titles—a continental record. The 1991 and 1995 editions, played as knockout tournaments with home-and-away matches including the final, are not included in this record for the Super Falcons.

Equatorial Guinea: the exception that broke the hegemony

In 2008, Equatorial Guinea caused a sensation. That year, the Nzalang Nacional Ladies ended Nigeria's invincibility and captured their very first continental crown on home soil. They triumphed 2-1 over South Africa. Four years later (2012), Equatorial Guinea repeated the feat—again at home—this time routing the Banyana Banyana 4-0, proving their 2008 victory was no fluke.

South Africa finally rewarded in 2022

In 2022, a new face emerged at the summit of African women’s football: South Africa. After several lost finals (1995, 2000, 2008, 2012, and 2018), the Banyana Banyana finally hoisted their first continental trophy in Morocco. They knocked out Nigeria in the semi-finals before defeating the host nation 2-1 in the final.