1972 African Cup of Nations

The 1972 African Cup of Nations was the eighth edition of the Africa Cup of Nations, the association football championship of Africa (CAF). It was hosted by Cameroon, in the cities of Yaoundé and Douala. Just like in 1970, the field of eight teams was split into two groups of four. The People's Republic of the Congo won its first championship, beating Mali in the final 3−2.

1972 African Cup of Nations
Coupe d'Afrique des Nations 1972
Tournament details
Host countryCameroon
Dates23 February – 5 March
Teams8
Venue(s)2 (in 2 host cities)
Final positions
Champions Congo (1st title)
Runners-up Mali
Third place Cameroon
Fourth place Zaire
Tournament statistics
Matches played16
Goals scored53 (3.31 per match)
Top scorer(s)Mali Fantamady Keita
(5 goals)
Best player(s)Republic of the Congo François M'Pelé
1970
1974

Qualified teamsEdit

The 8 qualified teams are:

For the first time, Ethiopia did not compete.

SquadsEdit

VenuesEdit

The competition was played in two venues in Yaoundé and Douala.

Yaoundé Douala
Stade Omnisports Stade de la Réunification
Capacity: 38,720 Capacity: 30,000
   

Group stageEdit

Group AEdit

Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
  Cameroon 3 2 1 0 5 2 +3 5
  Mali 3 0 3 0 5 5 0 3
  Kenya 3 0 2 1 3 4 −1 2
  Togo 3 0 2 1 4 6 −2 2
Cameroon  2–1  Kenya
N'Doga   7'
N'Dongo   20'
Niva   44'
Mali  3–3  Togo
B Traoré   10'
F. Keita   46'
B. Touré   49'
Kaolo   45' (pen.), 60'
Adé   81'
Referee: Andre Bernard Ickias (Congo)

Mali  1–1  Kenya
F. Keita   45' Nicodémus   60'
Cameroon  2–0  Togo
Maya   64'
Mvé   79'
Referee: Babikr Eissa (Sudan)

Togo  1–1  Kenya
Kaolo   60' Pelé Ouma   30'
Cameroon  1–1  Mali
N'Doumbé   67' F. Keita   43'
Referee: Mostafa Kamel (Egypt)

Group BEdit

Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
  Zaire 3 1 2 0 4 2 +2 4
  Congo 3 1 1 1 5 5 0 3
  Morocco 3 0 3 0 3 3 0 3
  Sudan 3 0 2 1 4 6 −2 2
Congo  1–1  Morocco
Moukila   45' Faras   34'
Zaire  1–1  Sudan
Mayanga   53' Hasabu El-Sagheer   55'

Morocco  1–1  Sudan
Faras   32' Abdel-Nadief   49'
Zaire  2–0  Congo
N'Tumba   16', 59'

Morocco  1–1  Zaire
Faras   36' Mayanga   3'
Congo  4–2  Sudan
M'Bono   8', 55'
M'Pelé   32'
Bahamboula   46'
Abdel Wahab   37'
Wahba   44'

Knockout stageEdit

 
Semi-finalsFinal
 
      
 
2 March – Yaoundé
 
 
  Cameroon 0
 
5 March – Yaoundé
 
  Congo 1
 
  Congo 3
 
2 March – Douala
 
  Mali 2
 
  Zaire 3
 
 
  Mali (a.e.t.) 4
 
Third place
 
 
4 March – Yaoundé
 
 
  Cameroon 5
 
 
  Zaire 2

SemifinalsEdit

Cameroon  0–1  Congo
Minga   31'
Referee: Mostafa Kamel (Egypt)

Zaire  3–4 (a.e.t.)  Mali
N'Tumba   6'
Etepé   61'
Ngassebe   78'
A. Traoré   17'
F. Keita   48', 92'
B. Touré   68'

Third place matchEdit

Cameroon  5–2  Zaire
Akono   4' (pen.)
N'Dongo   31'
Owona   32'
Mouthé   34'
N'Doga   42'
Etepé   13'
Mayanga   17'

FinalEdit

Congo  3–2  Mali
M'Bono   57', 59'
M'Pelé   63'
Diakhité   42'
M. Traoré   75'

GoalscorersEdit

5 goals
4 goals
3 goals
2 goals
1 goal

CAF Team of the tournamentEdit

Goalkeeper

Defenders

Midfielders

Forwards

External linksEdit