The 1972 African Cup of Nations Final was a football match that took place on 5 March 1972, at the Stade Omnisports in Yaoundé, Cameroon, to determine the winner of the 1972 African Cup of Nations. Congo defeated Mali 3–2 with two goals from M'Bono and a goal from M'Pelé, against one goal from Diakhité and another from M. Traoré to win their first African Cup. 
  Road to the final
  Match
 Details
     |    |  |  |   | GK | 1 | Maxime Matsima |   | DF | 2 | Gabriel Dengaki |   | DF | 3 | Alphonse Niangou |   | DF | 4 | Joseph Ngassaki |   | DF | 5 | Jacques Yvon Ndolou (c) |   | MF | 18 | Jean-Bertrand Balékita |   | MF | 6 | Noël Minga-Tchibinda |   | MF | 12 | Joseph Matongo |  |  77' |   | MF | 9 | Paul Mbemba |   | FW | 10 | Paul Moukila |  |  48' |   | FW | 20 | François M'Pelé |   | Substitutions: |   | FW | 19 | Jean-Michel M'Bono |  |  48' |   | FW | 11 | Jean-Michel Ongagna |  |  77' |   | Manager: |   |  Adolphe "Amoyen" Bibandzoulou |  |  |  | 
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|  NotesThe 2021 and 2023 tournaments were actually held in 2022 and 2024 respectively.There were no 1957 and 1959 qualifications as places were given by invitation only.The "finals" articles for 1959 and 1976 are about the decisive matches of final group stages.
  Football in Africa portal
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