1972 African Cup of Nations

{{Infobox international football competition

| tourney_name = African Cup of Nations

| year = 1972

| other_titles = Coupe d'Afrique des Nations 1972

| image =

| size =

| caption =

| country = Cameroon

| country-flagvar = 1961

| dates = 23 February – 5 March

| num_teams = 8

| venues = 2

| cities = 2

| champion = Congo

| champion-flagvar = 1970

| count = 1

| second = Mali

| third = Cameroon

| third-flagvar = 1961

| fourth = Zaire

| matches = 16

| goals = 53

| attendance = 425000

| top_scorer = {{flagicon|MLI}} Fantamady Keita
(5 goals)

| player = {{flagicon|CGO|1970}} François M'Pelé

| prevseason = 1970

| nextseason = 1974

| updated =

}}

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.

Qualified teams

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

Team ! Qualified as ! Qualified on ! Previous appearances in tournament{{efn\|Bold indicates champion for that year, Italic indicates host.}}
class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:left;"
{{fb\|CMR\|1961}}	Hosts		{{sort\|05\|1}} (1970)
{{fb\|SUD}}	Holders	{{dts\|16 February 1970}}	{{sort\|02\|4}} (1957, 1959, 1963, *1970*)
{{fb\|MAR}}	2nd round winners	{{dts\|16 April 1971}}	{{sort\|01\|0}} (debut)
{{fb\|TOG}}	2nd round winners	{{dts\|20 June 1971}}	{{sort\|01\|0}} (debut)
{{fb\|MLI}}	2nd round winners	{{dts\|27 June 1971}}	{{sort\|01\|0}} (debut)
{{fb\|CGO\|1970}}	2nd round winners	{{dts\|18 July 1971}}	{{sort\|05\|1}} (1968)
{{fb\|KEN}}	2nd round winners	{{dts\|18 July 1971}}	{{sort\|01\|0}} (debut)
{{fb\|ZAI}}	2nd round winners	{{dts\|27 October 1971}}	{{sort\|03\|3}} (1965, 1968, 1970)

;Notes

Squads

Venues

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

Yaoundé \| rowspan="8" \| {{location map+\|Cameroon\|float=center\|width=300\|caption=\|places= {{location map~\|Cameroon\|lat=3.866667\|long=11.516667\|label=Yaoundé\|position=bottom}} {{location map~\|Cameroon\|lat=4.05\|long=9.7\|label=Douala\|position=top}} }}
class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
Stade Omnisports
Capacity: 38,720
170px
Douala
Stade de la Réunification
Capacity: 30,000
170px

Group stage

=Tiebreakers=

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:

Goal difference in all group matches
Greater number of goals scored in all group matches
Drawing of lots

= Group A =

{{#invoke:Sports table|main|style=WDL

|section=standings

|winpoints=2

|class_rules=Group stage tiebreakers

|update=complete

|team1=CMR |team2=MLI |team3=KEN |team4=TOG

|result1=KO |result2=KO

|name_CMR={{fb|CMR|1961}}

|name_MLI={{fb|MLI}}

|name_KEN={{fb|KEN}}

|name_TOG={{fb|TOG}}

|res_col_header=Q

|col_KO=green1 |text_KO=Advance to knockout stage

}}

{{football box

| date = 23 February 1972

| time =

| team1 = {{fb-rt|CMR|1961}}

| score = 2–1

| team2 = {{fb|KEN}}

| goals1 = N'Doga {{goal|7}}
N'Dongo {{goal|20}}

| goals2 = Niva {{goal|44}}

| stadium = Stade Omnisports, Yaoundé

| attendance = 40,000

| referee = Abdelkader Ben Jelloun (Morocco)

| report =

}}

{{football box

| date = 24 February 1972

| time =

| team1 = {{fb-rt|MLI}}

| score = 3–3

| team2 = {{fb|TOG}}

| goals1 = B Traoré {{goal|10}}
F. Keita {{goal|46}}
B. Touré {{goal|49}}

| goals2 = Kaolo {{goal|45|pen.|60}}
Adé {{goal|81}}

| stadium = Stade Omnisports, Yaoundé

| attendance = 45,000

| referee = Andre Bernard Ickias (Congo)

| report =

}}

----

{{football box

| date = 26 February 1972

| time =

| team1 = {{fb-rt|MLI}}

| score = 1–1

| team2 = {{fb|KEN}}

| goals1 = F. Keita {{goal|45}}

| goals2 = Nicodémus {{goal|60}}

| stadium = Stade Omnisports, Yaoundé

| attendance = 45,000

| referee = Pierre Mutombo (Zaire)

| report =

}}

{{football box

| date = 26 February 1972

| time =

| team1 = {{fb-rt|CMR|1961}}

| score = 2–0

| team2 = {{fb|TOG}}

| goals1 = Maya {{goal|64}}
Mvé {{goal|79}}

| goals2 =

| stadium = Stade Omnisports, Yaoundé

| attendance = 45,000

| referee = Babikr Eissa (Sudan)

| report =

}}

----

{{football box

| date = 28 February 1972

| time =

| team1 = {{fb-rt|TOG}}

| score = 1–1

| team2 = {{fb|KEN}}

| goals1 = Kaolo {{goal|60}}

| goals2 = Pelé Ouma {{goal|30}}

| stadium = Stade Omnisports, Yaoundé

| attendance = 45,000

| referee = Abdelkader Aouissi (Algeria)

| report =

}}

{{football box

| date = 28 February 1972

| time =

| team1 = {{fb-rt|CMR|1961}}

| score = 1–1

| team2 = {{fb|MLI}}

| goals1 = N'Doumbé {{goal|67}}

| goals2 = F. Keita {{goal|43}}

| stadium = Stade Omnisports, Yaoundé

| attendance = 45,000

| referee = Mostafa Kamel (Egypt)

| report =

}}

= Group B =

{{#invoke:Sports table|main|style=WDL

|section=standings

|winpoints=2

|class_rules=Group stage tiebreakers

|update=complete

|team1=ZAI |team2=CGO |team3=MAR |team4=SUD

|result1=KO |result2=KO

|name_ZAI={{fb|ZAI}}

|name_CGO={{fb|CGO|1970}}

|name_MAR={{fb|MAR}}

|name_SUD={{fb|SUD}}

|res_col_header=Q

|col_KO=green1 |text_KO=Advance to knockout stage

}}

{{football box

| date = 25 February 1972

| time =

| team1 = {{fb-rt|CGO|1970}}

| score = 1–1

| team2 = {{fb|MAR}}

| goals1 = Moukila {{goal|45}}

| goals2 = Faras {{goal|34}}

| stadium = Stade de la Réunification, Douala

| attendance = 15,000

| referee = Alfred Olimba (Kenya)

| report =

}}

{{football box

| date = 25 February 1972

| time =

| team1 = {{fb-rt|ZAI}}

| score = 1–1

| team2 = {{fb|SUD}}

| goals1 = Mayanga {{goal|53}}

| goals2 = Hasabu El-Sagheer {{goal|55}}

| stadium = Stade de la Réunification, Douala

| attendance = 5,000

| referee = Sané Mady Diallo (Mali)

| report =

}}

----

{{football box

| date = 27 February 1972

| time =

| team1 = {{fb-rt|MAR}}

| score = 1–1

| team2 = {{fb|SUD}}

| goals1 = Faras {{goal|32}}

| goals2 = Abdel-Nadief {{goal|49}}

| stadium = Stade de la Réunification, Douala

| attendance = 7,000

| referee = Michael Wacka (Cameroon)

| report =

}}

{{football box

| date = 27 February 1972

| time =

| team1 = {{fb-rt|ZAI}}

| score = 2–0

| team2 = {{fb|CGO|1970}}

| goals1 = N'Tumba {{goal|16||59}}

| goals2 =

| stadium = Stade de la Réunification, Douala

| attendance = 7,000

| referee = Théodore Laclé (Togo)

| report =

}}

----

{{football box

| date = 29 February 1972

| time =

| team1 = {{fb-rt|MAR}}

| score = 1–1

| team2 = {{fb|ZAI}}

| goals1 = Faras {{goal|36}}

| goals2 = Mayanga {{goal|3}}

| stadium = Stade de la Réunification, Douala

| attendance = 20,000

| referee = Robert Foiret (Mauritius)

| report =

}}

{{football box

| date = 29 February 1972

| time =

| team1 = {{fb-rt|CGO|1970}}

| score = 4–2

| team2 = {{fb|SUD}}

| goals1 = M'Bono {{goal|8||55}}
M'Pelé {{goal|32}}
Bahamboula {{goal|46}}

| goals2 = Abdel Wahab {{goal|37}}
Wahba {{goal|44}}

| stadium = Stade de la Réunification, Douala

| attendance = 20,000

| referee = George Lamptey (Ghana)

| report =

}}

Knockout stage

{{Round4-with third

| 2 March – Yaoundé | {{fb|CMR|1961}} | 0 | {{fb|CGO|1970}} | 1

| 2 March – Douala | {{fb|ZAI}} | 3 | {{fb|MLI}} {{aet}} | 4

| 5 March – Yaoundé | {{fb|CGO|1970}} | 3 | {{fb|MLI}} | 2

| 4 March – Yaoundé | {{fb|CMR|1961}} | 5 | {{fb|ZAI}} | 2

}}

= Semifinals =

{{football box

| date = 2 March 1972

| time =

| team1 = {{fb-rt|CMR|1961}}

| score = 0–1

| team2 = {{fb|CGO|1970}}

| goals1 =

| goals2 = Minga {{goal|31}}

| stadium = Stade Omnisports, Yaoundé

| attendance = 40,000

| referee = Mostafa Kamel (Egypt)

| report =

}}

----

{{football box

| date = 2 March 1972

| time =

| team1 = {{fb-rt|ZAI}}

| score = 3–4 (a.e.t.)

| team2 = {{fb|MLI}}

| goals1 = N'Tumba {{goal|6}}
Etepé {{goal|61}}
Ngassebe {{goal|78}}

| goals2 = A. Traoré {{goal|17}}
F. Keita {{goal|48||92}}
B. Touré {{goal|68}}

| stadium = Stade de la Réunification, Douala

| attendance = 2,000

| referee = George Lamptey (Ghana)

| report =

}}

= Third place match =

{{football box

| date = 4 March 1972

| time =

| team1 = {{fb-rt|CMR|1961}}

| score = 5–2

| team2 = {{fb|ZAI}}

| goals1 = Akono {{goal|4|pen.}}
N'Dongo {{goal|31}}
Owona {{goal|32}}
Mouthé {{goal|34}}
N'Doga {{goal|42}}

| goals2 = Etepé {{goal|13}}
Mayanga {{goal|17}}

| stadium = Stade Omnisports, Yaoundé

| attendance = 4,000

| referee = George Lamptey (Ghana)

| report =

}}

= Final =

{{football box

| date = 5 March 1972

| time =

| team1 = {{fb-rt|CGO|1970}}

| score = 3–2

| team2 = {{fb|MLI}}

| goals1 = M'Bono {{goal|57||59}}
M'Pelé {{goal|63}}

| goals2 = Diakhité {{goal|42}}
M. Traoré {{goal|75}}

| stadium = Stade Omnisports, Yaoundé

| attendance = 40,000

| referee = Abdelkader Aouissi (Algeria)

| report =

}}

Goalscorers

{{Goalscorers

|goals=53 |matches=16

|5 goals=

{{fbicon|MLI}} Fantamady Keita

|4 goals=

{{fbicon|CGO|1970}} Jean-Michel M'Bono

|3 goals=

{{fbicon|MAR}} Ahmed Faras
{{fbicon|TOG}} Edmond Apéti Kaolo
{{fbicon|ZAI}} Mayanga Maku
{{fbicon|ZAI}} Jean Kalala N'Tumba

|2 goals=

{{fbicon|CMR|1961}} Jean-Baptiste N'Doga
{{fbicon|CMR|1961}} Paul-Gaston N'Dongo
{{fbicon|CGO|1970}} François M'Pelé
{{fbicon|MLI}} Bako Touré
{{fbicon|ZAI}} Kakoko Etepé

|1 goal=

{{fbicon|CMR|1961}} Jean Paul Akono
{{fbicon|CMR|1961}} Simo Emmanuel Mvé
{{fbicon|CMR|1961}} François N'Doumbe
{{fbicon|CMR|1961}} Joseph Yegba Maya
{{fbicon|CMR|1961}} Philippe Michel Mouthé
{{fbicon|CMR|1961}} Norbert Owona
{{fbicon|CGO|1970}} Jonas Bahamboula
{{fbicon|CGO|1970}} Noël Birindi Minga
{{fbicon|CGO|1970}} Paul Moukila
{{fbicon|KEN}} Daniel Arudhi Nicodémus
{{fbicon|KEN}} Jonathan Niva
{{fbicon|KEN}} Peter "Pelé" Ouma
{{fbicon|MLI}} Adama Traoré
{{fbicon|MLI}} Bakary Traoré
{{fbicon|MLI}} Moussa Diakhité
{{fbicon|MLI}} Moussa Traoré
{{fbicon|SUD}} Bushara Abdel-Nadief
{{fbicon|SUD}} Kamal Abdel Wahab
{{fbicon|SUD}} Hasabu El-Sagheer
{{fbicon|SUD}} Ahmed Bushara Wahba
{{fbicon|TOG}} Covi Adé
{{fbicon|ZAI}} Gary Ngassebe

}}

Team of the tournament

Source:{{Cite web |title=African Nations Cup 1972 - Final Tournament Details |url=https://www.rsssf.org/tables/72a-det.html |access-date=2023-10-10 |publisher=Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation}}

class="wikitable"

!Goalkeeper

!Defenders

!Midfielders

!Forwards

{{flagicon|Morocco}} Allal Ben Kassou

|{{flagicon|Sudan}} Mohamed El-Sir Abdalla

{{flagicon|Zaire}} Bwanga Tshimen

{{flagicon|Cameroon|1961}} Paul N'lend

{{flagicon|Morocco}} Boujemaa Benkhrif

|{{flagicon|Zaire}} Mayanga Maku

{{flagicon|CGO|1970}} Noël Minga-Tchibinda

{{flagicon|Cameroon|1961}} Paul-Gaston N'Dongo

{{flagicon|Cameroon|1961}} Jean-Pierre Tokoto

|{{flagicon|Zaire}} Kakoko Etepé

{{flagicon|CGO|1970}} François M'Pelé

References

External links

[https://www.rsssf.org/tables/72a.html Details at RSSSF]
[https://www.angelfire.com/ak/EgyptianSports/AfricanCup72.html Details at www.angelfire.com]
[http://footballmundial.tripod.com/caf/caf_1972_74.htm#1972 footballmundial.tripod.com]
[https://web.archive.org/web/20071012154545/http://www.world-results.net/football/anc/anc1972.html www.world-results.net]

Nations

African Cup of Nations, 1972

Category:Africa Cup of Nations tournaments

Category:Sport in Yaoundé

Category:Sport in Douala

African Cup of Nations, 1972

African Cup of Nations

Category:Events in Yaoundé