The Africa Cup of Nations 2024 editions has provided us with some of the best football we have seen this year. Ranging from underdog countries performing to footballing heavyweights shocking exits, the competition has had it all. Many football fans and pundits have even called it the best AFCON in recent memory.
So, who have been the biggest winners and losers so far? Lets dive into the Winners so far in the competition;
SENEGAL
Senegal won the competition for the first time in their history in 2022. Since then they have in a tear, reaching the World Cup in 2022 in Qatar and advancing to the round of 16.
In this AFCON, they have managed to get the whole 9 points and proceed to the round of 16 with ease while putting on fantastic performances especially against The Gambia.
EQUATORIAL GUINEA
Equatorial Guinea have been on a roll in this competition especially after thrashing the host nation Ivory Coast 4-0 in their last group stage match, a victory that will haunt the Ivorians for a while.
The team has been putting on fantastic performances and have advanced to the round of 16. Their main topic highlight has been their captain Emilio Nsue who has scored 5 goals in the tournament. However, they crashed out against Guinea in the round of 16.
CAPE VERDE
The Island Nation which has above 500k people has been the dark horse in the competition, shocking everyone in the process. They have already advanced to the quarter finals after beating Mauritania 1-0 in the round of 16.
One major highlight has been Bebe's goal in the group stage where he scored a 40-yard goal in their game against Mozambique, which will undoubtedly be the goal of the tournament.
ANGOLA
Angola have also been the biggest winners in the competition having progressed to the quarter finals in a long time. They didn't loose any match in their group managing to actually surprise the likes of Algeria who were booted out.
Players like Mabululu and Freddy have managed to be among the best footballers in the tournament.
So, who have been the biggest losers in AFCON 2024?
ALGERIA
The 2019 winners suffered a shocking and humiliating knockout off the competition after failing to win any of their matches in the group stage. This hence made them be last in their group for the first time.
The lack of proper finishing in front of goal, lack of a playing plan and underestimating teams have been their downfall.
TUNISIA
The 2004 champions also followed in the footsteps of Algeria as being another Arab world country based in Africa not to perform. They also finished last in their group which had nations such as Namibia, South Africa and Mali.
Their elimination again continued their dismal performance in the competition since they last won it in 2004.
EGYPT
One of the main reasons why Egypt were eliminated stems from their group stage inconsistency in their matches. Egypt progresses to the last 16 after a hard fought 2-2 against Cape Verde.
However, their biggest talking point was Mohammed Salah's hamstring injury which winded them, only allowing him to watch from the stands as they crashed out after a dramatic penalty shoot out against the DRC.
GHANA
Ghana's perfomances have been nothing short of horrendous to the point of attracting harsh criticism from the media and the Ghanean people. In their last game of the group stage against Mozambique, they managed to blow a 2-0 lead in the last minutes of the game for them to be eliminated.
This elimination marks a 42 year wait since Ghana won the competition in 1982. The only highlight for them was the perfomance of Mohammed Kudus who was the jewel for them.
About the Creator
Keep reading
More stories from writers in Writers and other communities.
The Comeback Generation: Why Starting Over After 30, 40, or 50 Is Becoming the New Path to Success
For decades, society told a simple story about success: figure out your life early, build your career fast, and lock in your future before you get “too old.” The message was subtle but powerful — if you didn’t make it in your twenties, you were somehow behind. Today, that story is breaking apart. Across the world, people in their thirties, forties, and fifties are walking away from careers, routines, and identities that no longer fit. They are starting businesses, learning new skills, moving to new cities, and chasing dreams they once believed were no longer allowed. This shift is being driven by more than just dissatisfaction. It’s being driven by clarity. With age often comes a deeper understanding of what truly matters. Many people spend their younger years chasing external approval — money, titles, or social status. But after years of experience, they begin to ask different questions. Do I enjoy my daily life? Does my work reflect my values? Am I proud of how I spend my time? For some, the answers lead to a powerful realization: staying the same feels riskier than starting over. Technology has made this kind of reinvention more possible than ever. Online courses allow people to learn new careers from their living rooms. Remote work opens doors to opportunities that were once limited by geography. Social platforms give individuals the ability to build personal brands, launch creative projects, or start businesses without massive upfront costs. What once required permission from companies, investors, or institutions can now begin with a laptop and an internet connection. But the comeback generation isn’t just about opportunity. It’s about mindset. One of the biggest barriers to starting over is fear — fear of failure, judgment, and wasted time. Many people worry that changing direction means admitting they made a mistake. But a growing number of voices are reframing that idea. They see their past not as a failure, but as training. Every job, relationship, and challenge becomes part of a skillset. Communication, resilience, problem-solving, and emotional intelligence don’t disappear when someone switches careers or goals. They carry forward, often making older beginners stronger than younger ones. There is also a quiet confidence that comes with experience. Younger people often feel pressure to prove themselves. Older beginners tend to care less about appearances and more about meaning. This shift in focus can lead to deeper commitment and greater satisfaction. Of course, starting over is not easy. It can involve financial uncertainty, uncomfortable learning curves, and moments of self-doubt. Watching younger people succeed in the same space can trigger insecurity. The question “Am I too late?” can echo loudly in the mind. But many in the comeback generation are discovering a powerful truth: there is no universal timeline for a meaningful life. Some of the most successful entrepreneurs, artists, and leaders didn’t find their true path until later years. What they often share is not youthful speed, but persistence. They kept moving forward, even when progress was slow and the outcome uncertain. There is also a cultural shift happening. Communities are becoming more supportive of non-linear life paths. Changing careers, taking breaks, and exploring new identities are becoming more accepted. The idea of having “one job for life” is being replaced by the idea of having many chapters. In this new story, life is not a straight road — it’s a landscape. Sometimes you climb. Sometimes you wander. Sometimes you stop and choose a completely new direction. And that choice, made at any age, can be an act of courage. The comeback generation isn’t trying to turn back time. They are using it — using what they’ve learned, what they’ve survived, and what they now understand about themselves. Because success is no longer being defined by how early you start. It’s being defined by how boldly you choose to continue.
By Hazrat Usman Usmanabout 23 hours ago in Writers
Comments (1)
What do you think of the tournament so far?