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)
Attendance425,000 (26,563 per match)
Top scorer(s)Mali Fantamady Keita
(5 goals)
Best player(s)Republic of the Congo François M'Pelé
1970
1974

Qualified teams

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For the first time, Ethiopia did not compete. The 8 qualified teams are:

Team Qualified as Qualified on Previous appearances in tournament[a]
  Cameroon Hosts 1 (1970)
  Sudan Holders 16 February 1970 4 (1957, 1959, 1963, 1970)
  Morocco 2nd round winners 16 April 1971 0 (debut)
  Togo 2nd round winners 20 June 1971 0 (debut)
  Mali 2nd round winners 27 June 1971 0 (debut)
  Congo 2nd round winners 18 July 1971 1 (1968)
  Kenya 2nd round winners 18 July 1971 0 (debut)
  Zaire 2nd round winners 27 October 1971 3 (1965, 1968, 1970)
Notes
  1. ^ Bold indicates champion for that year, Italic indicates host.

Squads

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Venues

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

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

Group stage

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Tiebreakers

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If two or more teams finished level on points after completion of the group matches, the following tie-breakers were used to determine the final ranking:

  1. Goal difference in all group matches
  2. Greater number of goals scored in all group matches
  3. Drawing of lots

Group A

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Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1   Cameroon (H) 3 2 1 0 5 2 +3 5 Advance to knockout stage
2   Mali 3 0 3 0 5 5 0 3
3   Kenya 3 0 2 1 3 4 −1 2
4   Togo 3 0 2 1 4 6 −2 2
Source: [citation needed]
Rules for classification: Group stage tiebreakers
(H) Hosts
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'
Attendance: 45,000
Referee: Andre Bernard Ickias (Congo)

Mali  1–1  Kenya
F. Keita   45' Nicodémus   60'
Attendance: 45,000
Cameroon  2–0  Togo
Maya   64'
Mvé   79'
Attendance: 45,000
Referee: Babikr Eissa (Sudan)

Togo  1–1  Kenya
Kaolo   60' Pelé Ouma   30'
Cameroon  1–1  Mali
N'Doumbé   67' F. Keita   43'
Attendance: 45,000
Referee: Mostafa Kamel (Egypt)

Group B

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Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1   Zaire 3 1 2 0 4 2 +2 4 Advance to knockout stage
2   Congo 3 1 1 1 5 5 0 3
3   Morocco 3 0 3 0 3 3 0 3
4   Sudan 3 0 2 1 4 6 −2 2
Source: [citation needed]
Rules for classification: Group stage tiebreakers
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 stage

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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

Semifinals

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Cameroon  0–1  Congo
Minga   31'
Attendance: 40,000
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 match

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Cameroon  5–2  Zaire
Akono   4' (pen.)
N'Dongo   31'
Owona   32'
Mouthé   34'
N'Doga   42'
Etepé   13'
Mayanga   17'
Attendance: 4,000

Final

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

Goalscorers

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There were 53 goals scored in 16 matches, for an average of 3.31 goals per match.

5 goals

4 goals

3 goals

2 goals

1 goal

Team of the tournament

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Source:[1]

Goalkeeper Defenders Midfielders Forwards
  Allal Ben Kassou   Mohamed El-Sir Abdalla

  Bwanga Tshimen

  Paul N'lend

  Boujemaa Benkhrif

  Mayanga Maku

  Noël Minga-Tchibinda

  Paul-Gaston N'Dongo

  Jean-Pierre Tokoto

  Kakoko Etepé

  François M'Pelé

References

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  1. ^ "African Nations Cup 1972 - Final Tournament Details". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Retrieved 10 October 2023.
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