The 1990 African Cup of Nations was the 17th edition of the Africa Cup of Nations, the football championship of Africa (CAF). It was hosted by Algeria. Just like in 1988, the field of eight teams was split into two groups of four. Algeria won its first championship, beating Nigeria in the final 1–0.

Qualified teams

thumb|Participating nations

The 8 qualified teams are:

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:left;"

|-

! Team

! Qualified as

! Qualified on

! Previous appearances in tournament

|-

| || Hosts || || (1968, 1980, 1982, 1984, 1986, 1988)

|-

| || Holders || || (1970, 1972, 1982, 1984, 1986, 1988)

|-

| || 2nd round winners || || (1965, 1968, 1986)

|-

| || 2nd round winners || || (1988, 1990)

|-

| || 2nd round winners || || (1957, 1959, 1962, 1963, 1970, 1974, 1976, 1980, 1984, 1986, 1988)

|-

| || 2nd round winners || || (1965, 1968, 1970, 1974, 1980, 1984, 1986, 1988)

|-

| || 2nd round winners || || (1963, 1976, 1978, 1980, 1982, 1984, 1988)

|-

| || 2nd round winners || || (1974, 1978, 1982, 1986)

|}

;Notes

Venues

The competition was played in two venues in Algiers and Annaba.

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"

|-

! Algiers

| rowspan="8" |

|-

| Stade du 5 Juillet

|-

| Capacity: 85,000

|-

| 200px

|-

!Annaba

|-

|Stade du 19 Mai

|-

|Capacity: 56,000

|-

|200px

|}

Match officials

;Referees

  • Laurent Petcha (Cameroon)
  • Mohamed Hussam El-Dine (Egypt)
  • Jean-Fidèle Diramba (Gabon)
  • Badou Jasseh (Gambia)
  • Idrissa Traoré (Mali)
  • Idrissa Sarr (Mauritania)
  • Eganaden Cadressen (Mauritius)
  • Abdellali Naciri (Morocco)
  • Badara Sène (Senegal)
  • Ally Hafidhi (Tanzania)
  • Mawukpona Hounnake-Kouassi (Togo)
  • Naji Jouini (Tunisia)

;Invited referees

  • Shizuo Takada (Japan)
  • Jamal Al Sharif (Syria)

Squads

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:

  1. Greatest total goal difference in the three group matches
  2. Greatest number of goals scored in the three group matches
  3. Most points earned in matches against other teams in the tie
  4. Greatest goal difference in matches against other teams in the tie
  5. Greatest number of goals scored in matches against other teams in the tie
  6. Drawing of lots

Group A

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Group B

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Knockout stage

Semi-finals

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Third place match

Final

Statistics and awards

Player of the Tournament

:1 Rabah Madjer (76 pts)

:2 Tahar Chérif El-Ouazzani

:3 Djamel Menad

:– Rashidi Yekini

:– Webster Chikabala

CAF Team of the Tournament

{| class="wikitable" style="margin:0 auto"

|-

! Goalkeepers

! Defenders

! Midfielders

! Forwards

|-

| align=left valign=top |

Antar Osmani

| align=left valign=top |

Ali Benhalima <br />

André Kana-Biyik <br />

Arsène Hobou <br />

Samuel Chomba

| align=left valign=top |

Djamel Amani <br />

Rabah Madjer <br />

Tahar Chérif El-Ouazzani <br />

Moses Kpakor

| align=left valign=top |

Djamel Menad <br />

Webster Chikabala

|}

Goalscorers

References

  • Details at RSSSF