AFCON 2025: Egypt eye record 10th AFCON final as unbeaten run continues
Egypt are bidding to become the first team to reach 10 Africa Cup of Nations finals, currently tied with Ghana on nine appearances. The Pharaohs last played in the final in 2021, and should they advance this year, it will mark their third final in five editions and their first since that 2021 campaign.
Remarkably, Egypt have never reached an AFCON final in North Africa when they were not hosts. This semi-final run represents their furthest progress at a tournament staged in the region outside of Egypt. In previous North African editions, they were eliminated in the group stages in 1988, 1990 and 2004, and reached only the quarter-finals in 1994.
The Pharaohs boast a rich history in the competition, having contested finals in 1957, 1959, 1986, 1998, 2006, 2008, 2010, 2017 and 2021. Their quarter-final victory over Côte d’Ivoire was their 64th win in AFCON history, the most by any nation.
This year, Egypt have scored nine goals, with three coming in the group stage and six in the knockout rounds. Defensively, they have conceded four goals, the joint-highest among the semi-finalists alongside Nigeria.
Yet their resilience remains unmatched: Egypt are now 15 AFCON matches unbeaten in open play (seven wins and eight draws). Their last defeat in regulation time came in their opening match of the 2021 tournament, a 1–0 loss to Nigeria.
With history beckoning, the Pharaohs stand on the brink of setting a new benchmark in African football by reaching a record 10th AFCON final.
