Egypt Between Legend and Challenge: The New Order of African Football in AFCON

The question of whether Egypt has stopped being the giant of CAF is a complex one. Looking at their record, the answer is a resounding “no”: their seven Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) titles remain the all-time record. However, examining the current competitiveness, the picture shows a colossus walking on fragile feet.

Paradoxically, Egyptian football dominates Africa today more than ever—but at the club level. Al Ahly just claimed its twelfth CAF Champions League title (2024), and teams like Pyramids FC have emerged as new continental powers. Cairo remains the capital of African football, but that supremacy hasn’t translated into trophies for the national team.

Verdict: Egypt has not ceased to be a powerhouse, but it is no longer the sole giant. The rise of nations like Senegal and Morocco has ended the era of Pharaohic intimidation. Today, Egypt is an elite competitor that relies on the memory of its past glory, hoping that its domestic league—the strongest on the continent—can once again produce a national team capable of crafting the eighth star.

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