AFCON
As Mauritania Arrive With Four Brothers, CAF Presents Other Siblings Who Played Together At AFCON –
- Mauritania to have four brothers in CAF AFCON 2023
- Hassan brothers the only siblings to have lifted the title together twice
- The Toure and Ayew brothers,with six intstances, have played the most AFCON titles together
The 34th edition of Africa’s biggest event, the CAF Africa Cup of Nations kicks off in less than 48 hours, with 24 strong African nations set to battle it out for Africa’s most coveted title.
With all 24 teams raring to go, CAFOnline takes a look interesting statistical information of brothers playing in the same national team at the various editions of the AFCON.
In the history of the competition, six siblings have managed to win the trophy: the Ethiopians Italo and Luciano Vassalo in 1962, the Congolese Albert Bwanga and Robert Kazadi in 1974, the Cameroonians André and François Biyik in 1988, the Zambians Christopher and Felix Katongo in 2012, the Ivorians Yaya and Kolo Touré in 2015.
Egypt’s Hossam and Ibrahim Hassan have achieved the feat of winning two CAF Africa Cup of Nations in 1986 and 1998 together.
- Kolo and Yaya Touré (Cote d’Ivoire – AFCON 2006, 2008, 2010, 2012, 2013 & 2015)
Football-wise, Kolo and Yaya have experienced almost everything. For years, they were teammates and opponents in the English Premier League but when asked what their biggest emotion as players was, they pointed to their victory in the CAF Africa Cup of Nations in 2015.
Before reaching the holy grail in Equatorial Guinea, the Touré brothers had played in five AFCON competitions.
- André and Jordan Ayew (Ghana – AFCON 2012, 2015, 2017, 2019, 2021 & 2023)
AFCON 2023 will be the sixth edition that Abedi Pelé’s sons will play together. In 2015, André and Jordan Ayew were on the verge of winning their first continental title but couldn’t wrestle the might of Côte d’Ivoire during an endless penalty shootout.
- André Kana Biyik and François Omam Biyik (Cameroon – AFCON 1988, 1990 and 1992)
The two wield distinct skill sets. The youngest François, is an elegant striker; his goal scored in the 1990 World Cup against Diego Maradona’s Argentina lives on.
The two brothers played together in three AFCON competitions.
- Hossam and Ibrahim Hassan (Egypt 1986 & 1998)
Until now, no siblings have managed to do better than them. The Hassan brothers achieved the feat of winning two AFCON titles.
- Alain and Traoré (Burkina Faso – 2015 and 2017)
Finalists in 2013, and after an unsuccessful attempt in 2015, the two brothers had to settle for a bronze medal in 2017.
- Sambou and Mustapha Yatabaré (Mali – 2015 and 2017)
Now retired, the two Malian brothers defended the colors of Mali in 2015 and 2017. The two participations ended in elimination in the first round of the competition.
- Christopher and Felix Katongo (Zambia – 2012 and 2013)
Zambia won its first TotalEnergies CAF AFCON in 2012. Christopher Katongo participated in this fantastic odyssey alongside his younger brother Félix.
But this wasn’t a Zambian first. In 1994 and 1996, Kenneth and Mordon Malitoli became the first Zambian siblings to compete in the competition.
- Italo and Luciano Vassalo (Ethiopia – 1962)
Luciano and Italo Vassalo are the first brothers to have played in the same team during the 1962 edition in Addis Ababa. Luciano would later be crowned best player of the competition, a first for an Ethiopian player.
- Nouh Mohamed El Abd, Sidi Ahmed Mohamed El Abd, Lamine Ba and El Hadji Ba (Mauritania – 2023)
For the 2023 edition, four brothers are making an appearance for Mauritania. Nouh Mohamed El Abd and his little brother Sidi Ahmed Mohamed El Abd. Both players play at FC Nouadhibou, Nouh in defense and Sidi in the middle.
Lamine Ba will also be accompanied by his brother El Hadji. Born in France, Ba brothers will play their first Africa Cup of Nations with Mauritania.
- Albert Bwanga and Robert Kazadi (DR Congo – 1974)
Albert Bwanga and Robert Kazadi represented Democratic Republic of Congo. They are one of six siblings to have won the AFCON.
Ghana also had two pairs of brothers during the 2008 edition, Asamoah Gyan was accompanied by his big brother Baffour. The Kingston family was also represented by Richard and Laryea.
In 2004, Zimbabwean Peter Ndlovu played in the competition with his brother Adam.
During this same edition, Benin had Tchomogo Oumar and Seidath. In 2000, Salou, Bachirou and Tadjou brought joy to Togo, just like Mohamed and Musa Kallon with Sierra Leone in 1996. The 1994 AFCON saw Samir and Adel Sellimi defend the colors of Tunisia.
Confederation of African Football (CAF) president Patrice Motsepe would welcome an investigation into corruption at the organisation, saying they have nothing to hide following a meeting with Senegalese officials in Dakar on Wednesday.
Senegal’s government last month demanded an investigation into corruption after the country was stripped of their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations title by the CAF Appeal Board, and the trophy was awarded to the final opponents, Morocco.
It follows unruly scenes in the January 18 decider in Rabat that Senegal won 1-0, but during which they left the field for several minutes in protest at a late refereeing decision.
Motsepe met with officials from the Senegalese Football Federation and Senegal president Bassirou Diomaye Faye on Wednesday, where he urged unity following the fallout from the final. He will be in Morocco on Thursday for a similar set of meetings.
“I would welcome any investigation into corruption at CAF, be it by a government or any institution,” Motsepe told reporters. “In fact, I would encourage it. We will give them our full cooperation.
“I have been told there were problems in the past and we intervened. It is not just in football, but in business and politics too. We cannot give our children the perception that if you want to succeed in life, be corrupt. There has to be zero tolerance (for corruption).
“That’s the best gift we can give football in Africa. Not just talking about corruption, but intervene, put the necessary laws in place) and implement them.”
Motsepe would not be drawn on the matter between Senegal and Morocco, which is now before the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
“There is nothing I can tell you that I haven’t said already 10, 15, 20 times. You can ask me the same question 100 times, I’ll give you the same answer 100 times. I have an obligation to respect that the matter is now in front of the highest (sports) court in the world.”
Motsepe quashed any suggestion that Morocco had been treated favourably in the appeal process.
“Under no circumstances will any single country in Africa be treated more preferentially or more favourably than any other. That will never happen,” he said.
“We are confident we will come out of these challenges more united amongst the 54 nations in Africa.”
-Reuters
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By Kunle Solaja.
Patrice Motsepe has intensified his diplomatic shuttle across African football corridors with a crucial visit to Morocco scheduled for Thursday, as the fallout from the controversial AFCON 2025 Final continues to reverberate across the continent.
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) confirmed that Motsepe will meet with Fouzi Lekjaa, President of the Fédération Royale Marocaine de Football (FRMF), alongside other key stakeholders within Morocco’s football ecosystem.
Fouzi Lekjaa, President of the Fédération Royale Marocaine de Football (FRMF)
The high-level engagement in Rabat comes barely 24 hours after Motsepe’s crisis-management visit to Senegal, underlining CAF’s urgency in addressing the tensions and conflicting reports that have trailed the AFCON final.
Thursday’s meeting is expected to focus on fact-finding, reconciliation, and institutional alignment following the chaotic circumstances that marred the tournament’s climax. The Moroccan FA has been central to the unfolding controversy, with administrative and refereeing decisions from the final still under scrutiny.
CAF disclosed that the visit will conclude with a press conference in Rabat at 17:00 local time (16:00 GMT), where Motsepe is expected to address the media and possibly provide updates on CAF’s ongoing review of the final.
While details of the agenda remain closely guarded, the visit signals a continuation of Motsepe’s hands-on approach to crisis resolution, engaging directly with national federations in a bid to preserve the integrity of African football competitions.
CAF and the FRMF have indicated that further details regarding the outcomes of the visit will be communicated in due course, as stakeholders across the continent await clarity on one of the most contentious finals in recent AFCON history.
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CAF President Patrice Motsepe is set to visit Senegal on Wednesday for high-level talks with President Bassirou Diomaye Faye and the leadership of the Fédération Sénégalaise de Football, in what is widely seen as a crucial diplomatic move amid lingering controversy over the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations Final.
The visit comes against the backdrop of the chaotic and disputed AFCON 2025 final in Rabat, a match marred by heavy rainfall, administrative confusion, and conflicting official reports from within CAF and its committees.
The uncertainty surrounding the outcome of that final has cast a shadow over African football governance, prompting urgent calls for clarity and institutional accountability.
Sources indicate that Motsepe’s meeting with President Faye will extend beyond routine courtesy, touching on broader issues of football governance, tournament integrity, and the role of national associations in safeguarding the credibility of continental competitions.
Senegal, a major stakeholder in African football and one of the continent’s most influential football nations, is expected to play a key role in shaping the narrative going forward.
Motsepe will also hold discussions with Abdoulaye Fall, focusing on collaboration between CAF and its member associations, as well as mechanisms to prevent a recurrence of the controversies that plagued the AFCON final.
While CAF has yet to officially outline the agenda, observers believe the visit signals an attempt by the continental body to consolidate support among key football nations and manage the fallout from the final’s unresolved issues.
The optics of engaging directly with political leadership further underline the seriousness of the situation.
CAF and the Senegalese Football Federation have both stated that more details regarding the visit will be released in due course, leaving stakeholders across the continent watching closely for signals on how African football’s governing body intends to restore confidence in its competitions.
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