2006 Africa Cup of Nations

Updated on Oct 12, 2024

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Host country Egypt Champions Egypt (5th title) Fourth place Senegal Best player Ahmed Hassan Dates 20 Jan 2006 – 10 Feb 2006		Venue(s) 6 (in 4 host cities) Runners-up Ivory Coast Matches played 32 Top scorer Samuel Eto'o Teams 16

Champion Egypt national football team Third place Nigeria national football team Similar 2008 Africa Cup of Nations, 2004 African Cup of N, 2002 African Cup of N, 2010 Africa Cup of Nations, 2000 African Cup of N

The 2006 Africa Cup of Nations was the 25th edition of the Africa Cup of Nations, the association football championship of Africa. It was hosted by Egypt. Just like in 2004, the field of sixteen teams was split into four groups of four. Egypt won its fifth championship, beating Cote d'Ivoire in the final 4−2 in a penalty shootout after a goalless draw.

Qualification

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

2006 also marked the first time that the defending champion did not automatically qualify for the finals. Tunisia, 2004's champion, qualified for the Cup of Nations by winning their group in the qualification process.