- André Ayew and Youssef Msakni equal Rigobert Song and Ahmed Hassan’s record, making their eighth TotalEnergies CAF AFCON appearances
- Despite extensive experience, Ayew and Msakni have not secured an AFCON title, aiming for victory in the ongoing competition
Ghana’s captain, André Ayew, and Tunisia’s captain, Youssef Msakni, etched their names in history by making their eighth appearance in the TotalEnergies CAF AFCON, equaling the record set by Cameroonian Rigobert Song and Egyptian Ahmed Hassan.
This significant achievement, held since 2010 by Song and Hassan, has now been equalled by Ayew and Msakni, both present in Côte d’Ivoire for the 34th edition at the ages of 34 and 33, respectively.
Ayew’s journey in the TotalEnergies CAF AFCON began in 2008 when Ghana hosted the tournament, and he was only 18 years old. Since then, he has participated in every edition except for 2013, when he was excluded from Coach James Kwesi Appiah’s team due to injury. With 118 caps for Ghana, including 35 in the TotalEnergies CAF AFCON, Ayew has been a consistent presence.
Msakni, representing the Tunisian National team since 2009, has similarly participated in every TotalEnergies CAF AFCON since 2010 with the Carthage Eagles of Tunisia. His recent game against Namibia marked his 100th cap for Tunisia.
While Rigobert Song and Ahmed Hassan both won titles during their eight AFCON competitions between 1996 and 2010, Ayew and Msakni, despite their extensive experience, have yet to secure the ultimate victory in the competition.