Nigeria, Jan. 19 -- Hosting the Africa Cup of Nations often comes with significant advantages. Teams enjoy familiar pitches, strong home support and the belief that comes from playing in front of their own fans. Many host nations have used that edge to win the title.

However, history also shows a painful exception. A few host countries reached the final but failed to lift the trophy on home soil.

After Morocco's 1-0 extra-time loss to Senegal in the 2025 final, that list has grown. Nigeria's Super Eagles are part of this unlucky group, along with Tunisia, Libya and now Morocco.

Tunisia were the first host nation to suffer this fate. At the 1965 AFCON, they enjoyed massive home support and reached the final against Ghana, the dominant t...