AFCON 2025: Defending Champions Curse Continues As Ivory Coast Crash Out

AFCON 2025: Defending Champions Curse Continues As Ivory Coast Crash Out

Sampson Adedeji

For the eighth consecutive edition, the defending champions of the Africa Cup of Nations have failed to retain their title after Ivory Coast were eliminated from AFCON 2025 on Saturday, BSNSports.com.ng reports.

The Elephants, who lifted the trophy at the 2023 edition, saw their campaign in Morocco come to an end, extending a long-standing trend that has continued for over a decade in African football.

Ivory Coast’s exit means no team has successfully defended the AFCON crown since Egypt achieved the feat in 2010. 

Since then, reigning champions have consistently fallen short at the subsequent tournament.

A look at the recent history highlights the pattern:

2010: Egypt (defending champions failed in 2012)

2012: Zambia

2013: Nigeria

2015: Ivory Coast

2017: Cameroon

2019: Algeria

2021: Senegal

2023: Ivory Coast

2025: Defending champions eliminated

Despite entering the tournament with high expectations, Ivory Coast were unable to overcome their opponents, once again underlining how difficult it has become to dominate African football across consecutive tournaments.

With the defending champions now out of the race, AFCON 2025 is guaranteed to produce a new winner, adding further intrigue as the competition heads into its decisive stages.

As the remaining contenders battle for continental supremacy, the big question remains: who will emerge as champions of Africa in 2025?