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2015 Africa Cup of Nations
Copa Africana de Naciones 2015
AFCON 2015
CAN 2015
AFCON2015
2015 Africa Cup
Tournament details
Host countryFlag of Equatorial Guinea Equatorial Guinea
Dates17 January - 8 February
Teams16 (from CAF confederations)
Venue(s)(in 4 host cities)
Final positions
ChampionsFlag of Cote d'Ivoire Ivory Coast
Runner-upFlag of Ghana Ghana
Third placeFlag of the Democratic Republic of the Congo DR Congo
Fourth placeFlag of Equatorial Guinea Equatorial Guinea
Tournament statistics
Matches played32
Goals scored68 (2.13 per match)
Attendance617,374 (19,293 per match)
Top scorer(s)Flag of Tunisia Ahmed Akaïchi
Flag of Ghana André Ayew
Flag of Equatorial Guinea Javier Balboa
Flag of Congo Thievy Bifouma
Flag of DR Congo Dieumerci Mbokani
(3 goals each)
Best playerFlag of Ghana Christian Atsu
2013
2017

The 2015 Africa Cup of Nations, known as the Orange Africa Cup of Nations, Equatorial Guinea 2015 for sponsorship reasons, was the 30th edition of the Africa Cup of Nations, the international football championship of Africa. It was organized by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and was held from 17 January to 8 February 2015.

The tournament was initially scheduled to be hosted by Morocco who later demanded postponement of the event because of the Ebola virus epidemic in West Africa; subsequently Morocco was ruled out as a host country and replaced by Equatorial Guinea.

The Ivory Coast won the tournament for their second Africa Cup of Nations title, defeating Ghana 9–8 in a penalty shoot-out after the final finished goalless following extra time. The DR Congo came third and the hosts Equatorial Guinea fourth, while defending champions Nigeria did not qualify.

Qualification[]

Main article:2015 Africa Cup of Nations qualification

Qualification for the tournament were made up of four stages, three preliminary rounds and a final group stage. The 21 best-ranked teams were given a bye to the group stage, while the next 26 teams began play in the second preliminary round, and four lowest ranked teams started at the first round. The three preliminary rounds were a series of playoffs, with the winners advancing.

51 nations entered the tournament (excluding initial hosts Morocco). It was the competitive debut of South Sudan. Djibouti and Somalia declined to enter.

Morocco would have automatically qualified as hosts; however, after their refusal to host, they were expelled from the tournament by the CAF. Equatorial Guinea was chosen as the new host, and despite having played in the qualifiers and been disqualified due to fielding an ineligible player, they qualified for the tournament automatically.

The defending champions Nigeria failed to qualify for the tournament.

Qualified teams[]

The following sixteen teams qualified for the tournament.

Country Qualified as Qualified on Previous appearance in tournament12
Flag of Equatorial Guinea Equatorial Guinea Hosts 14 November 2014 1 (2012)
Flag of South Africa South Africa Group A winners 15 November 2014 8 (1996, 1998, 2000, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2008, 2013)
Flag of the Republic of the Congo Congo Group A runners-up 19 November 2014 6 (1968, 1972, 1974, 1978, 1992, 2000)
Flag of Algeria Algeria Group B winners 15 October 2014 15 (1968, 1980, 1982, 1984, 1986, 1988, 1990, 1992, 1996, 1998, 2000, 2002, 2004, 2010, 2013)
Flag of Mali Mali Group B runners-up 19 November 2014 8 (1972, 1994, 2002, 2004, 2008, 2010, 2012, 2013)
Flag of Gabon Gabon Group C winners 15 November 2014 5 (1994, 1996, 2000, 2010, 2012)
Flag of Burkina Faso Burkina Faso Group C runners-up 15 November 2014 9 (1978, 1996, 1998, 2000, 2002, 2004, 2010, 2012, 2013)
Flag of Cameroon Cameroon Group D winners 15 November 2014 16 (1970, 1972, 1982, 1984, 1986, 1988, 1990, 1992, 1996, 1998, 2000, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2008, 2010)
Flag of Cote d'Ivoire Ivory Coast Group D runners-up 19 November 2014 20 (1965, 1968, 1970, 1974, 1980, 1984, 1986, 1988, 1990, 1992, 1994, 1996, 1998, 2000, 2002, 2006, 2008, 2010, 2012, 2013)
Flag of Ghana Ghana Group E winners 19 November 2014 19 (1963, 1965, 1968, 1970, 1978, 1980, 1982, 1984, 1992, 1994, 1996, 1998, 2000, 2002, 2006, 2008, 2010, 2012, 2013)
Flag of Guinea Guinea Group E runners-up 19 November 2014 10 (1970, 1974, 1976, 1980, 1994, 1998, 2004, 2006, 2008, 2012)
Cape Verde Cape Verde Group F winners 15 October 2014 1 (2013)
Flag of Zambia Zambia Group F runners-up 15 November 2014 16 (1974, 1978, 1982, 1986, 1990, 1992, 1994, 1996, 1998, 2000, 2002, 2006, 2008, 2010, 2012, 2013)
Flag of Tunisia Tunisia Group G winners 14 November 2014 16 (1962, 1963, 1965, 1978, 1982, 1994, 1996, 1998, 2000, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2008, 2010, 2012, 2013)
Flag of Senegal.svg Senegal Group G runners-up 15 November 2014 12 (1965, 1968, 1986, 1990, 1992, 1994, 2000, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2008, 2012)
Flag of the Democratic Republic of the Congo DR Congo Best third placed team 19 November 2014 16 (1965, 1968, 1970, 1972, 1974, 1976, 1988, 1992, 1994, 1996, 1998, 2000, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2013)
1 Bold indicates champion for that year.
2 Italic indicates host for that year.

Venues[]

The four Equatorial Guinean cities selected to host the tournament were Malabo, Bata, Mongomo and Ebebiyín.

Malabo and Bata were also host venues for the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations.

Screening for Ebola was given to all spectators attending matches.

Bata Malabo Mongomo Ebebiyín
Estadio de Bata Nuevo Estadio de Malabo Estadio de Mongomo Nuevo Estadio de Ebebiyín
Capacity: 41,000 Capacity: 15,250 Capacity: 15,000 Capacity: 8,000
Estadio de Bata (15896737884) Estadio de Malabo Equatorial Guinea Stade-Mongomo

Draw[]

The finals draw was held on 3 December 2014 in Malabo. It was initially to be held on 26 November 2014 in Rabat before the change of host country.

The 16 teams were divided into four pots based on the CAF Ranking, with the hosts Equatorial Guinea placed in Pot 1 automatically. The ranking was computed using the teams' results in the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers (weighted by 2), 2013 Africa Cup of Nations finals (weighted by 3) and qualifiers (weighted by 1), the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations finals (weighted by 2) and qualifiers (weighted by 0.5), the 2010 Africa Cup of Nations finals (weighted by 1), and the 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.

Pot 1 Pot 2 Pot 3 Pot 4

Flag of Equatorial Guinea Equatorial Guinea (host; assigned to A1)
Flag of Ghana Ghana (48 pts)
Flag of Cote d'Ivoire Ivory Coast (44 pts)
Flag of Zambia Zambia (41 pts)

Flag of Burkina Faso Burkina Faso (40 pts)
Flag of Mali Mali (38 pts)
Flag of Tunisia Tunisia (32.5 pts)
Flag of Algeria Algeria (28 pts)

Cape Verde Cape Verde (26.5 pts)
Flag of South Africa South Africa (23.5 pts)
Flag of Cameroon Cameroon (23.5 pts)
Flag of Gabon Gabon (22 pts)

Flag of Guinea Guinea (19 pts)
Flag of Senegal.svg Senegal (19 pts)
Flag of the Democratic Republic of the Congo DR Congo (18 pts)
Flag of the Republic of the Congo Congo (13 pts)

Squads[]

Main article:2015 Africa Cup of Nations squads

Each team could register a squad of 23 players.

Group stage[]

The group winners and runners-up advance to the quarter-finals.

Tiebreakers

The teams are ranked according to points (3 points for a win, 1 point for a draw, 0 points for a loss). If tied on points, tiebreakers are applied in the following order:

  1. Number of points obtained in games between the teams concerned;
  2. Goal difference in games between the teams concerned;
  3. Goals scored in games between the teams concerned;
  4. If, after applying criteria 1 to 3 to teams concerned, two or three teams still have an equal ranking, criteria 1 to 3 are reapplied exclusively to the matches between these teams in question to determine their final rankings. If this procedure does not lead to a decision, criteria 5 to 7 will apply;
  5. Goal difference in all games;
  6. Goals scored in all games;
  7. Drawing of lots.

Group A[]

Main article:2015 Africa Cup of Nations Group A

Template:2015 Africa Cup of Nations Group A table

17 January 2015
Equatorial Guinea Flag of Equatorial Guinea 1–1 Flag of the Republic of the Congo Congo Estadio de Bata, Bata
Burkina Faso Flag of Burkina Faso 0–2 Flag of Gabon Gabon Estadio de Bata, Bata
21 January 2015
Equatorial Guinea Flag of Equatorial Guinea 0–0 Flag of Burkina Faso Burkina Faso Estadio de Bata, Bata
Gabon Flag of Gabon 0–1 Flag of the Republic of the Congo Congo Estadio de Bata, Bata
25 January 2015
Gabon Flag of Gabon 0–2 Flag of Equatorial Guinea Equatorial Guinea Estadio de Bata, Bata
Congo Flag of the Republic of the Congo 2–1 Flag of Burkina Faso Burkina Faso Nuevo Estadio de Ebebiyín, Ebebiyín

Group B[]

Main article:2015 Africa Cup of Nations Group B

Template:2015 Africa Cup of Nations Group B table

18 January 2015
Zambia Flag of Zambia 1–1 Flag of the Democratic Republic of the Congo DR Congo Nuevo Estadio de Ebebiyín, Ebebiyín
Tunisia Flag of Tunisia 1–1 Cape Verde Cape Verde Nuevo Estadio de Ebebiyín, Ebebiyín
22 January 2015
Zambia Flag of Zambia 1–2 Flag of Tunisia Tunisia Nuevo Estadio de Ebebiyín, Ebebiyín
Cape Verde Cape Verde 0–0 Flag of the Democratic Republic of the Congo DR Congo Nuevo Estadio de Ebebiyín, Ebebiyín
26 January 2015
Cape Verde Cape Verde 0–0 Flag of Zambia Zambia Nuevo Estadio de Ebebiyín, Ebebiyín
DR Congo Flag of the Democratic Republic of the Congo 1–1 Flag of Tunisia Tunisia Estadio de Bata, Bata

Group C[]

Main article:2015 Africa Cup of Nations Group C

Template:2015 Africa Cup of Nations Group C table

19 January 2015
Ghana Flag of Ghana 1–2 Flag of Senegal.svg Senegal Estadio de Mongomo, Mongomo
Algeria Flag of Algeria 3–1 Flag of South Africa South Africa Estadio de Mongomo, Mongomo
23 January 2015
Ghana Flag of Ghana 1–0 Flag of Algeria Algeria Estadio de Mongomo, Mongomo
South Africa Flag of South Africa 1–1 Flag of Senegal.svg Senegal Estadio de Mongomo, Mongomo
27 January 2015
South Africa Flag of South Africa 1–2 Flag of Ghana Ghana Estadio de Mongomo, Mongomo
Senegal Flag of Senegal.svg 0–2 Flag of Algeria Algeria Nuevo Estadio de Malabo, Malabo

Group D[]

Main article:2015 Africa Cup of Nations Group D

Guinea and Mali finished level on the second spot after the group stage, making the first drawing of lots needed at the tournament since 1988. Unlike some other international tournaments, 2015 Africa Cup of Nations tournament regulations would not use fair-play criteria or a penalty shoot-out after the teams met on the last match day to determine the final group ranking. Both head coaches have openly criticised the regulations.

Template:2015 Africa Cup of Nations Group D table

20 January 2015
Ivory Coast Flag of Cote d'Ivoire 1–1 Flag of Guinea Guinea Nuevo Estadio de Malabo, Malabo
Mali Flag of Mali 1–1 Flag of Cameroon Cameroon Nuevo Estadio de Malabo, Malabo
24 January 2015
Ivory Coast Flag of Cote d'Ivoire 1–1 Flag of Mali Mali Nuevo Estadio de Malabo, Malabo
Cameroon Flag of Cameroon 1–1 Flag of Guinea Guinea Nuevo Estadio de Malabo, Malabo
28 January 2015
Cameroon Flag of Cameroon 0–1 Flag of Cote d'Ivoire Ivory Coast Nuevo Estadio de Malabo, Malabo
Guinea Flag of Guinea 1–1 Flag of Mali Mali Estadio de Mongomo, Mongomo

Knockout stage[]

Main article:2015 Africa Cup of Nations knockout stage

In the knockout stages, if a match is level at the end of normal playing time, extra time shall be played (two periods of 15 minutes each) and followed, if necessary, by kicks from the penalty mark to determine the winner, except for the play-off for third place where no extra time shall be played.

On 27 January 2015, the CAF announced that they had relocated the venues of two of the quarter-finals:

The kick-off time of quarter-finals 2 and 4 are also changed from 20:00 to 20:30 local time.

  Quarter-finals Semi-finals Final
                           
  Flag of the Republic of the Congo Congo 2  
Flag of the Democratic Republic of the Congo DR Congo 4  
  Flag of the Democratic Republic of the Congo DR Congo 1  
  Flag of Cote d'Ivoire Ivory Coast 3  
Flag of Cote d'Ivoire Ivory Coast 3
  Flag of Algeria Algeria 1  
    Flag of Cote d'Ivoire Ivory Coast (pen.) 0 (9)
  Flag of Ghana Ghana 0 (8)
  Flag of Ghana Ghana 3  
Flag of Guinea Guinea 0  
  Flag of Ghana Ghana 3 Third place
  Flag of Equatorial Guinea Equatorial Guinea 0  
Flag of Tunisia Tunisia 1 Flag of the Democratic Republic of the Congo DR Congo (pen.) 0 (4)
  Flag of Equatorial Guinea Equatorial Guinea (a.e.t.) 2   Flag of Equatorial Guinea Equatorial Guinea 0 (2)


Scores after extra time are indicated by (a.e.t.), and penalty shoot-out are indicated by (pen.).

All times local, WAT (UTC+1).

Quarter-finals[]

31 January 2015
17:00
Congo Flag of the Republic of the Congo 2–4 Flag of the Democratic Republic of the Congo DR Congo Estadio de Bata, Bata
Attendance: 31,670
Referee: Bernard Camille (Seychelles)
Doré Goal 55'
Bifouma Goal 62'
Report Mbokani Goal 65'90+1'
Bokila Goal 75'
Kimwaki Goal 81'

31 January 2015
20:30
Tunisia Flag of Tunisia 1–2
(a.e.t.)
Flag of Equatorial Guinea Equatorial Guinea Estadio de Bata, Bata
Attendance: 41,000
Referee: Rajindraparsad Seechurn (Mauritius)
Akaïchi Goal 70' Report Balboa Goal 90+3' (pen.)102'

1 February 2015
17:00
Ghana Flag of Ghana 3–0 Flag of Guinea Guinea Nuevo Estadio de Malabo, Malabo
Attendance: 14,500
Referee: Janny Sikazwe (Zambia)
Atsu Goal 4'61'
Appiah Goal 44'
Report

1 February 2015
20:30
Ivory Coast Flag of Cote d'Ivoire 3–1 Flag of Algeria Algeria Nuevo Estadio de Malabo, Malabo
Attendance: 15,000
Referee: Bakary Gassama (Gambia)
Bony Goal 26'68'
Gervinho Goal 90+4'
Report Soudani Goal 51'

Semi-finals[]

4 February 2015
20:00
DR Congo Flag of the Democratic Republic of the Congo 1–3 Flag of Cote d'Ivoire Ivory Coast Estadio de Bata, Bata
Attendance: 30,000
Referee: Néant Alioum (Cameroon)
Mbokani Goal 24' (pen.) Report Y. Touré Goal 20'
Gervinho Goal 41'
Kanon Goal 68'

5 February 2015
20:00
Ghana Flag of Ghana 3–0 Flag of Equatorial Guinea Equatorial Guinea Nuevo Estadio de Malabo, Malabo
Attendance: 15,520
Referee: Eric Otogo-Castane (Gabon)
J. Ayew Goal 42' (pen.)
Mubarak Goal 45+1'
A. Ayew Goal 75'
Report

Third place play-off[]

7 February 2015
17:00
DR Congo Flag of the Democratic Republic of the Congo 0–0 Flag of Equatorial Guinea Equatorial Guinea Nuevo Estadio de Malabo, Malabo
Attendance: 15,520
Referee: Gehad Grisha (Egypt)
Report
  Penalties  
Mabwati Soccerball shad check
Mabidi Soccerball shad check
Mbemba Soccerball shad check
Mongongu Soccerball shad check
4–2 Missed Balboa
Missed Fabiani
Soccerball shad check Juvenal
Soccerball shad check Ellong

Note: no extra-time was played

Final[]

Main article:2015 Africa Cup of Nations Final
8 February 2015
20:00
Ivory Coast Flag of Cote d'Ivoire 0–0
(a.e.t.)
Flag of Ghana Ghana Estadio de Bata, Bata
Attendance: 32,857
Referee: Bakary Gassama (Gambia)
Report
  Penalties  
Bony Missed
Tallo Missed
Aurier Soccerball shad check
Doumbia Soccerball shad check
Y. Touré Soccerball shad check
Kalou Soccerball shad check
K. Touré Soccerball shad check
Kanon Soccerball shad check
Bailly Soccerball shad check
Die Soccerball shad check
Barry Soccerball shad check
9–8 Soccerball shad check Wakaso
Soccerball shad check J. Ayew
Missed Acquah
Missed Acheampong
Soccerball shad check A. Ayew
Soccerball shad check Mensah
Soccerball shad check Badu
Soccerball shad check Afful
Soccerball shad check Baba
Soccerball shad check Boye
Missed Razak

Statistics[]

Goalscorers[]

3 goals
2 goals
1 goal
1 own goal

Awards[]

Pepsi Highest Scorer
Player name Games played Goals scored Assists Minutes played Source
Flag of Ghana André Ayew 6 3 2
Flag of Congo Thievy Bifouma 4 3
Flag of Tunisia Ahmed Akaïchi 4 3
Flag of DR Congo Dieumerci Mbokani 6 3 1
Flag of Equatorial Guinea Javier Balboa 6 3
Orange Man of the Competition
Best Goalkeeper
  • Flag of Ivory Coast Sylvain Gbohouo
Nissan Goal of the tournament
Samsung Fair Player of the Tournament
  • Flag of Ghana Kwesi Appiah
Fair Play of the tournament
Flag of the Democratic Republic of the Congo DR Congo
CAF Team of the Tournament
Goalkeeper Defenders Midfielders Forwards
Flag of Ivory Coast Sylvain Gbohouo
Flag of DR Congo Robert Kidiaba (tie)
Flag of Ivory Coast Serge Aurier
Flag of Ghana Harrison Afful
Flag of Ivory Coast Kolo Touré
Flag of Ghana André Ayew
Flag of Ivory Coast Yaya Touré
Flag of Ivory Coast Max Gradel
Flag of DR Congo Yannick Bolasie
Flag of Ivory Coast Gervinho
Flag of Ghana Christian Atsu
Flag of Ivory Coast Wilfried Bony

Discipline[]

In the final tournament, a player was suspended for the subsequent match in the competition for either getting red card or accumulating two yellow cards in two different matches. The disciplinary panel has the ability to increase the automatic one match ban for a red card (e.g. for violent conduct). Single yellow card cautions were erased at the conclusion of the group stage, and were not carried over to the knockout stage. The following players were or are suspended during the final tournament – for one or more games – as a result of red cards or yellow card accumulations:

Player Offence Suspension
Flag of Burkina Faso Florent Rouamba Carried over from qualification Group A vs Gabon
Flag of Zambia Donashano Malama Group B vs DR Congo
Flag of South Africa Eric Mathoho Group C vs Algeria
Flag of South Africa Reneilwe Letsholonyane
Flag of Guinea Seydouba Soumah Group D vs Ivory Coast
Flag of Ivory Coast Gervinho Red card vs Guinea Group D vs Mali
Group D vs Cameroon
Flag of Equatorial Guinea Diosdado Mbele Booked vs Congo
Booked vs Burkina Faso
Group A vs Gabon
Flag of Congo Boris Moubhibo Booked vs Equatorial Guinea
Booked vs Gabon
Group A vs Burkina Faso
Flag of Ivory Coast Cheick Tioté Booked vs Guinea
Booked vs Mali
Group D vs Cameroon
Flag of Guinea Naby Yattara Red card vs Ghana Africa Cup of Nations qualifying
Flag of Equatorial Guinea Ibán Booked vs Tunisia
Booked vs Ghana
Third place play-off vs DR Congo

External links[]

Africa Cup of Nations
Tournaments

Sudan 1957 · United Arab Republic 1959 · Ethiopia 1962 · Ghana 1963 · Tunisia 1965 · Ethiopia 1968 · Sudan 1970 · Cameroon 1972 · Egypt 1974 · Ethiopia 1976 · Ghana 1978 · Nigeria 1980 · Libya 1982 · Ivory Coast 1984 · Egypt 1986 · Morocco 1988 · Algeria 1990 · Senegal 1992 · Tunisia 1994 · South Africa 1996 · Burkina Faso 1998 · Ghana/Nigeria 2000 · Mali 2002 · Tunisia 2004 · Egypt 2006 · Ghana 2008 · Angola 2010 · Gabon/Equatorial Guinea 2012 · South Africa 2013 · Equatorial Guinea 2015 · Gabon 2017 · Egypt 2019 · Cameroon 2022 · Ivory Coast 2023 · TBD 2025 ·

Africa Cup of Nations finals

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Africa Cup of Nations Qualification

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Africa Cup of Nations Squads

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