Ghana captain Andre Ayew and Tunisian captain Youssef Msakni made history after playing for their respective countries at this year’s Cup of Nations in Cote d’Ivoire.
The appearances mean the two have played in eight Afcons, equalling the record held by former Cameroon defender Rigobert Song (current Indomitable Lions' head coach) and Egyptian Ahmed Hassan.
Ayew, 34, played his first tournament in 2008 at home, when he was just 18 years old.
He missed the 2013 edition when he was overlooked by coach Kwesi Appiah after an injury. The Le Havre player has 118 caps, including 35 in Afcon.
Meanwhile, Msakni has played for the Carthage Eagles of Tunisia in all Afcon tournaments since 2010.
Tunisia’s 1-0 defeat to Namibia on Tuesday night was his 100th.
Song and Hassan played in eight Afcons, between 1996 and 2010.
Song won two titles, in 2000 and 2002, while Hassan won four (1998, 2006, 2008 and 2010).
However, Ayew and Msakni are yet to lift the trophy despite their long experience in the competition.
Ayew has come close twice, losing the 2010 final to Egypt and to Cote d’Ivoire in 2015. Msakni’s best performance is a fourth-place finish at home in 2019.
Elsewhere, Namibia coach Benjamin Collins said nobody gave them a chance in their opening match against Tunisia, which they won 1-0.
“It’s an ecstatic feeling that I can’t describe. I am proud to be Namibian and to be a coach of these players. We were never given a chance," said Collins.
"We are just happy that we could go on the pitch and play a good match and win. I can only imagine what is happening in the streets of Namibia. This victory is dedicated to them,” said Collins.
However, the former national team skipper insists there is still a lot of work to be done.
“We celebrate tonight but it is back to normal tomorrow, back to grinding and working hard as a team — for our people back home,” he concluded.
