Africa Cup of Nations: How defending champions performed

1959: Egypt - champions

1962: Egypt - runners-up

1963: Ethiopia - 4th

1965: Ghana - champions

1968: Ghana - runners-up

1970: Zaire - Gp B, 4th

1972: Sudan - Gp B, 4th

1974: Congo Brazzaville - 4th

1976: Zaire - Gp B, 4th

1878: Morocco - Gp B, 3rd

1980: Ghana - Gp B, 3rd

1982: Nigeria - Gp B, 3rd

1984: Ghana - Gp B, 3rd

1986: Cameroon - runners-up

1988: Egypt - Gp B, 3rd

1990: Cameroon - Gp B, 3rd

1992: Algeria - Gp C, 3rd

1994: Ivory Coast - 3rd

1996: Nigeria - withdrew after political row with hosts South Africa

1998: South Africa - runners-up

2000: Egypt - quarter-finals

2002: Cameroon - champions

2004: Cameroon - quarter-finals

2006: Tunisia - quarter-finals

2008: Egypt - champions

2010: Egypt - champions

2012: Egypt - did not qualify

2013: Zambia - Gp C, 3rd

2015: Nigeria - did not qualify

2017: Ivory Coast - Gp C, 3rd

2019: Cameroon - Last 16

2022: Algeria - Gp E, 4th

2024: Senegal - Last 16

Note: Zaire renamed the Democratic Republic of Congo in 1997