Angola hosted the 2010 Africa Cup of Nations to encourage national peace and stability

Countries & Cities · Published 15 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: The 27th Africa Cup of Nations was more than a football tournament; it was a diplomatic effort to foster unity in Angola following the civil war. Despite a tragic security incident involving Togo, the competition proceeded, culminating in a historic third consecutive title for Egypt in a shortened schedule.

The 2010 Africa Cup of Nations, held from 10 January to 31 January, was awarded to Angola by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) as a strategic move to support the nation's transition toward peace after the Angolan Civil War. The tournament was part of a broader CAF plan to distribute hosting duties across the continent, with subsequent editions assigned to Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, and Libya. To ensure stability, Nigeria was designated as a reserve host for the 2010, 2012, and 2014 tournaments, though their services were ultimately not required.

The event faced a significant disruption when Togo withdrew just two days before the opening match following a terrorist attack on their team bus. This reduced the field from 16 to 15 nations and forced a reduction in the total number of matches from 32 to 29. The qualification process was uniquely integrated with the 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, requiring even the host nation, Angola, and the World Cup host, South Africa, to compete for their spots. The final tournament draw, held on 20 November 2009 in Luanda, placed Angola and Egypt as top seeds, joined by Cameroon and Ivory Coast based on their recent competition records.

On the pitch, Egypt cemented its dominance by defeating Ghana 1–0 in the final, securing their seventh title and an unprecedented third consecutive championship. Individual excellence was recognized through awards for players like Ahmed Hassan, named the best of the competition, and Gedo, who was honored as the discovery player. The tournament also featured the Adidas Jabulani Angola match ball and a mascot named Palanquinha, inspired by the rare Giant Sable Antelope found in Angola's Cangandala National Park. Seven corporate sponsors supported the event, including Standard Bank, the only African entity among them.

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