The 2006 Africa Cup of Nations was the 25th edition of the

Africa Cup of Nations The Africa Cup of Nations referred to as AFCON (french: Coupe d'Afrique des Nations, sometimes referred to as CAN, or TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations for sponsorship reasons), and sometimes as African Cup of Nations, is the main internati ...

, the association football championship of Africa. It was hosted by Egypt. Just like in

2004 2004 was designated as an International Year of Rice by the United Nations, and the International Year to Commemorate the Struggle Against Slavery and its Abolition (by UNESCO). Events January * January 3 – Flash Airlines Flight 6 ...

, the field of sixteen teams was split into four groups of four.

Egypt Egypt ( ar, مصر , ), officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, is a transcontinental country spanning the northeast corner of Africa and southwest corner of Asia via a land bridge formed by the Sinai Peninsula. It is bordered by the Mediter ...

won its fifth championship, beating

Ivory Coast Ivory Coast, also known as Côte d'Ivoire, officially the Republic of Côte d'Ivoire, is a country on the southern coast of West Africa. Its capital is Yamoussoukro, in the centre of the country, while its largest city and economic centre is ...

in the final 4–2 in a penalty shootout after a goalless draw.

Host selection

Bids : * Algeria * Egypt * Ivory Coast * Libya The organization of the 2006

was awarded to Egypt on 24 October 2002 by the CAF Executive Committee meeting in

Cairo Cairo ( ; ar, القاهرة, al-Qāhirah, ) is the capital of Egypt and its largest city, home to 10 million people. It is also part of the largest urban agglomeration in Africa, the Arab world and the Middle East: The Greater Cairo metro ...

, Egypt. Voters had a choice between four countries : Algeria, Egypt, Ivory Coast and Libya. This marks the fourth time that Egypt has hosted the African Cup after

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1974 Major events in 1974 include the aftermath of the 1973 oil crisis and the resignation of United States President Richard Nixon following the Watergate scandal. In the Middle East, the aftermath of the 1973 Yom Kippur War determined politics; f ...

and

1986 The year 1986 was designated as the International Year of Peace by the United Nations. Events January * January 1 ** Aruba gains increased autonomy from the Netherlands by separating from the Netherlands Antilles. **Spain and Portugal ente ...

. It also coincides with the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the foundation of CAF.

Qualification

For the 2006 Africa Cup of Nations, qualification was done through the CAF's qualification process for the

2006 FIFA World Cup The 2006 FIFA World Cup, also branded as Germany 2006, was the 18th FIFA World Cup, the quadrennial international football world championship tournament. It was held from 9 June to 9 July 2006 in Germany, which had won the right to host the ...

. Whereas only the winner of each group qualified for the World Cup, the top 3 finishers in each of the five qualification groups gained entry into the Africa Cup of Nations. The exception was qualification group 3, which contained hosts

. Since Egypt qualified for the Africa Cup of Nations automatically as the hosts, the final berth was instead awarded to the fourth-place finishers,

Libya Libya (; ar, ليبيا, Lībiyā), officially the State of Libya ( ar, دولة ليبيا, Dawlat Lībiyā), is a country in the Maghreb region in North Africa. It is bordered by the Mediterranean Sea to the north, Egypt to Egypt–Libya bo ...

. 2006 also marked the first time that the defending champion did not automatically qualify for the finals.

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's champion, qualified for the Cup of Nations by winning their group in the qualification process.

Participating teams

* * * * * (qualified as hosts) * * * * * * * * * (holders) * *

Squads

Venues

Group stage

The top two teams of each group (highlighted in green) progress to the quarter-finals. ''All times local:

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Group A

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Group B

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Group C

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Group D

---- ---- ---- ---- ----

Knockout stage

Quarter-finals

---- ---- ----

Semi-finals

----

Third-place match

Final

Goalscorers

;5 goals *

Samuel Eto'o Samuel Eto'o Fils (; born 10 March 1981) is a Cameroonian football administrator and former player who is the current president of the Cameroonian Football Federation from 11 December 2021. In his prime, Eto'o was regarded by pundits as one of ...

;4 goals * Ahmed Hassan *

Pascal Feindouno Pascal Feindouno (born 27 February 1981) is a Guinean former professional footballer who played as a winger. In his prime, he was widely recognised as one of the best footballers to come out of Guinea. He scored 30 goals in 85 appearances betwe ...

Francileudo Santos Francileudo Silva dos Santos Lima ( ar, فرانسيلودو سيلفا دوس سانتوس ليما; born 20 March 1979) is a retired professional footballer who played as a forward. In club football, he had his greatest successes at Sochaux ...

;3 goals *

Emad Moteab Emad Mohamed Abdelnaby Ibrahim Moteab ( ar, عماد محمد عبد النبي إبراهيم متعب; born 20 February 1983) is an Egyptian semi-retired professional footballer who played as a striker. Career statistics International :Sourc ...

Flávio Flávio is a Portuguese language given name, equivalent of Latin Flavius, and Italian and Spanish Flavio. The Portuguese diminutive form is Flavinho. People * Flávio da Silva Amado (1979), better known as Flávio, Angolan footballer *Antônio Flá ...

Didier Drogba Didier Yves Drogba Tébily (; born 11 March 1978) is an Ivorian retired professional footballer who played as a striker. He is the all-time top scorer and former captain of the Ivory Coast national team. He is best known for his career at ...

;2 goals *

Mohamed Aboutrika Mohamed Mohamed Mohamed Aboutrika (Arabic language, Arabic: محمد محمد محمد أبوتريكة‎ (repeated three times); born 7 November 1978) is an Egyptian retired professional Association football, footballer who played as an Midfiel ...

Albert Meyong Albert Meyong Zé (born 19 October 1980), known as Meyong, is a Cameroonian former footballer who played as a striker, currently a manager. He spent most of his professional career in Portugal, amassing Primeira Liga totals of 231 matches and ...

* Ousmane Bangoura *

Kaba Diawara Kaba Diawara (born 16 December 1975) is a football manager and former player who played as a striker. He has been head coach of the Guinea national football team since October 2021. Diawara played for French teams Sporting Toulon, Bordeaux, R ...

Obafemi Martins Obafemi Akinwunmi Martins (born 28 October 1984) is a Nigerian former professional footballer who played as a forward. He is known for his speed on the ball. After leaving Nigeria for Italy at age 16, he has since played for a number of top-d ...

* Henri Camara *

Mamadou Niang Mamadou Hamidou Niang (born 13 October 1979) is a Senegalese former professional footballer who played as a striker. He has represented Senegal at international level, participating in the 2004, 2006, and 2008 African Cup of Nations. He is t ...

;1 goal * Norberto Maurito *

Geremi Geremi Sorele Njitap Fotso (born 20 December 1978), known simply as Geremi, is a Cameroonian former footballer. He was a versatile player able to play at right back, right midfield or defensive midfielder, known for his power, pace, combative ...

Lomana LuaLua Trésor Lomana LuaLua (; born 28 December 1980) is a Congolese professional footballer who last played as a striker. He is currently the attacking coach for Spalding United. LuaLua was born in Kinshasa, but moved to England at a young age. ...

* Tresor Mputu *

Hossam Hassan Hossam Hassan Hussein ( ar, حسام حسن حسين; born 10 August 1966) is an Egyptian professional football coach and former player who played as a striker. A prolific goalscorer, he is Egypt's all-time top scorer with 83 goals in 176 appea ...

* Mido *

Amr Zaki Amr Hassan Zaki ( ar, عمرو زكي; born 1 April 1983) is an Egyptian retired professional footballer who played as a striker. He has played for numerous different clubs in Egypt, Russia, England, Turkey and Kuwait. Zaki has made 63 appearan ...

Baba Adamu Baba Armando Adamu (born 20 October 1979), known occasionally simply by his nickname Armando, is a Ghanaian former professional football striker. He made nine appearances for scoring twice the Ghana national team. International career Baba ma ...

Matthew Amoah Mathew Amoah (born 24 October 1980) is a Ghanaian former professional footballer who played as a striker. From 2002 to 2011 he represented the Ghana national team at international level, scoring 12 goals in 45 matches. Club career Vitesse an ...

* Sambégou Bangoura *

Arouna Koné Arouna Koné (born 11 November 1983) is an Ivorian professional footballer who plays as a striker for Belgian club VK Weerde. After making a name for himself in the Eredivisie, with Roda JC and PSV, he signed with Sevilla in 2007, where he r ...

Bakari Koné Bakari Koné (born 17 September 1981) is an Ivorian former professional footballer who played as a winger. Club career Early career Koné was born in Abidjan. Like many other Ivorian stars, he began his career at the famed youth academy at A ...

Yaya Touré Gnégnéri Yaya Touré (born 13 May 1983) is an Ivorian professional football coach and former player who played as a midfielder. He is an academy coach for Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur. Touré aspired to be a striker during his you ...

* Abdusalam Khames *

Garba Lawal Garba Lawal (born 22 May 1974) is a Nigerian former professional footballer who played as a left midfielder. In 2014 he became general manager at Kaduna United and left his role in 2015. He is with the technical department of the Nigeria Footba ...

Mikel John Obi Mikel John Obi (born John Michael Nchekwube Obinna; 22 April 1987) is a Nigerian former professional footballer who played as a defensive midfielder. Mikel began his career with local club Plateau United, before joining Norwegian club Lyn at th ...

Victor Obinna Victor Nsofor Obinna (born 25 March 1987) is a Nigerian former professional footballer who played as a striker. Obinna in Igbo, literally means "father's heart". He played for Chievo in Italy's Serie B, having played regularly in Serie A with ...

Christian Obodo Christian Obodo (born 11 May 1984 in Warri, Nigeria) is a Nigerian former footballer who played as a defensive midfielder. Football career He was plucked from relative obscurity in the Nigerian league, playing for Plateau United before he bec ...

Taye Taiwo Taye Ismaila Taiwo (born 16 April 1985) is a Nigerian professional footballer who plays as a defender for Kakkonen club SalPa. Having been a ranks of Gabros International and Lobi Stars, Taiwo moved to France by joining Marseille, where he h ...

* Issa Ba *

Souleymane Camara Souleymane Camara (born 22 December 1982) is a Senegalese former professional footballer who played as a forward. He is a former Senegal international and has represented his nation at the 2002 FIFA World Cup and three Africa Cup of Nations to ...

Papa Bouba Diop Papa Bouba Diop (28 January 197829 November 2020) was a Senegalese professional footballer. His preferred position was defensive midfield but he could also play as a centre back, where he previously played at Lens. Diop was considered a strong ...

Mohamed Kader Mohamed Abdel-Kader Coubadja-Touré (born 8 April 1979) is a Togolese former professional footballer who played as a forward. Club career After starting out with Étoile Filante de Lomé, he left Togo for CA Bizertin (Tunisia) before landin ...

Chérif Touré Mamam Cherif-Touré Mamam (born 13 January 1978) is a Togolese former professional footballer who played as a midfielder for the Togo national team. Club career During his time at Livingston, Touré wore number 91. This is said to be his lucky numbe ...

Selim Benachour Selim Benachour ( ar, سليم بن عاشور, Salīm bin ʻĀshūr; born Slim Ben-Achour on 8 September 1981) is a football coach and former professional player who played as a attacking midfielder. Born in France, he represented Tunisia at ...

* Riadh Bouazizi *

Karim Haggui Karim Haggui ( ar, كريم حقي; born 20 January 1984) is a Tunisian former footballer who played as a defender. His last club was FC St. Gallen. Club career Early career Born in Kasserine, Haggui started his career in 1998 with AS Kas ...

* James Chamanga * Christopher Katongo *

Elijah Tana Elijah Tana (born 28 February 1975) is a Zambian former professional footballer who played as a centre-back. International career Tana represented the Zambia national team at the African Cup of Nations in 2000 and 2006. See also *List of ...

Benjani Mwaruwari Mpenjani ‘Mpe’ Mwaruwari (born 13 August 1978), often known simply as Benjani, is a Zimbabwean retired professional footballer who played as a striker. Having started his career with Jomo Cosmos, Benjani moved to Europe in 2001 to join Sw ...

;1 own goal *

Abdel-Zaher El-Saqqa Abdel-Zaher El-Saqqa Ahmed Mohamed Hassan ( ar, عبد الظاهر السقا أحمد محمد حسن; born 30 January 1974) is an Egyptian retired footballer. He also won 112 caps for the Egypt national side, scoring 4 goals. Beginning his c ...

(against Congo DR) * Issah Ahmed (against Zimbabwe)

CAF Team of the Tournament

Goalkeeper *

Essam El Hadary Essam Kamal Tawfiq El Hadary ( ar, عصام كمال توفيق الحضري; born 15 January 1973) is an Egyptian goalkeeping coach and former professional footballer. Nicknamed the "High Dam", El Hadary spent the largest portion of his club ca ...

Defenders *

Rigobert Song Rigobert Song Bahanag (born 1 July 1976) is a Cameroonian former professional footballer who is the manager of the Cameroon national team. Known for his defensive skills, Song usually played as a centre-back but could also operate at right-back ...

Wael Gomaa Wael Kamel Gomaa El Hawty ( ar, وائل كامل جمعة الحوتي; born 3 August 1975) is an Egyptian retired professional footballer who played as a centre-back. He is regarded as one of the best African defenders of all time. Club career ...

Emmanuel Eboué Emmanuel Eboué (born 4 June 1983) is an Ivorian former professional footballer who played as a right back. Formed at ASEC Mimosas, he moved to Europe to play for Belgium's Beveren in 2002. He spent most of his career, from 2005 to 2011, with A ...

Midfielders * Stephen Appiah *

* Ahmed Hassan *

Forwards *

External links

BBC coverage

A guide to the teams
{{Africa Cup of Nations Africa Cup of Nations tournaments International association football competitions hosted by Egypt Nations, 2006

Africa Cup The Rugby Africa Cup is a two-year men's rugby union tournament involving the top 16 African nations based on their World Rugby rankings, it is organised by Rugby Africa. The tournament was first held in 2000. It was renamed the Rugby Africa Cup i ...

Africa Cup of Nations, 2006 Sport in Alexandria Sport in Port Said Football in Cairo