The “champions’ curse” struck hard at the Africa Cup of Nations, as holders Ivory Coast crashed out early, while Egypt managed to protect their standing despite a difficult campaign.
Ivory Coast, who arrived as the reigning champions, were unable to live up to expectations and paid the price in the group stage, becoming the latest title-holder to fall victim to the tournament’s harsh pattern.
In contrast, Egypt avoided the same fate. Although the Pharaohs did not dominate proceedings, they held on to their prestige and ensured they would not be added to the list of shock early exits.
The article also revealed a clear trend in recent AFCON history: defending champions have repeatedly struggled in the following edition, with Ivory Coast now joining that list, while Egypt’s ability to stay competitive helped keep their reputation intact.
