2019 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON 2019)

Host selection and change

Cameroon had originally been awarded the right to host the 2019 tournament, but in January 2019 the Confederation of African Football (CAF) withdrew those rights after concerns about the pace of preparations and readiness of venues and infrastructure. CAF reallocated the tournament to Egypt, which stepped in to organize matches on short notice. Egypt provided several large venues, including Cairo International Stadium and other stadiums in major cities, to accommodate the fixtures.

Format and participants

The 2019 tournament used the 24-team format introduced at the previous edition. Teams were divided into six groups of four; the top two teams from each group and the four best third-placed teams advanced to a 16-team knockout stage consisting of round of 16, quarter-finals, semi-finals and the final. The expanded field increased the number of competing nations and provided more opportunities for emerging teams to gain continental experience.

Major outcomes and significance

Algeria won the championship, defeating Senegal 1–0 in the final to claim their second Africa Cup of Nations title — their first since 1990. The final and several knockout matches featured tight, low-scoring affairs that underlined the tournament's competitive balance. The success of Algeria and the performance of other teams had implications for player recognition, national pride and coaching reputations across African football.

Legacy and notable facts

• The tournament demonstrated the ability of a substitute host to organize a major continental event on short notice.
• Expanding to 24 teams continued to shape qualification and competition dynamics, giving more nations exposure at the continental level.
• Matches were staged in multiple Egyptian cities, helping to concentrate organizational resources while offering a variety of venues for fans.

For additional context on the tournament structure and historical records, see the Confederation of African Football resources: AFCON overview. For background on the original host assignment and the reassignment, see coverage related to Cameroon and CAF decisions.