South Africa at the Africa Cup of Nations explained

Although the football team for South Africa participated in the Africa Cup of Nations much later than many African countries (the country was scheduled to participate in inaugural 1957 Africa Cup of Nations but was excluded because of apartheid[1]), as they participated for the first time as host of 1996 edition, South Africa has soon established itself as an emerging African power. The first edition South Africa participated was a complete success, with the team conquered their first, and only African trophy, on their debut.[2] [3] Since then, South Africa continues to participate and remains a reckoned force, though success has been elusive since the 2000s. Outside the 1996 edition, South Africa also hosted 2013 Africa Cup of Nations and managed to advance to the quarter-finals.[4] They again reached the quarter-finals in the 2019 edition of the tournament, and finished third at the 2023 tournament.

Overall record

Africa Cup of Nations record
YearRoundPosition
1957Disqualified due to apartheid
1959Banned
1962
1963
1965
1968
1970
1972
1974
1976
1978
1980
1982
1984
1986
1988
1990
1992
1994Did not qualify
1996Champions1st6501112
1998Runners-up2nd632196
2000Third place3rd632186
2002Quarter-finals6th412133
2004Group stage11th311135
200616th300305
200813th302135
2010Did not qualify
2012
2013Quarter-finals6th412153
2015Group stage15th301236
2017Did not qualify
2019Quarter-finals7th520334
2021Did not qualify
2023Third place3rd724173
2025To be determined
2027
Total1 Title11/34501816165548

Match history

YearDateLocationRoundOpponentResultSouth Africa scorers
13 January 1996 Group stage 3–0
20 January 1996 1–0
24 January 1996 0–1
27 January 1996 Quarter-finals 2–1
31 January 1996 Semi-finals 3–0
bgcolor=gold 3 February 1996 bgcolor=gold bgcolor=gold 2–0 bgcolor=gold
8 February 1998 Group stage 0–0
11 February 1998 1–1
16 February 1998 4–1
22 February 1998 Quarter-finals 2–1
25 February 1998 Semi-finals 2–1
bgcolor=silver 28 February 1998 bgcolor=silver bgcolor=silver 0–2 bgcolor=silver
23 January 2000 Group stage 3–1
27 January 2000 1–0
2 February 2000 1–1
6 February 2000 Quarter-finals 1–0
10 February 2000 Semi-finals 0–2
bgcolor=#cc9966 12 February 2000 bgcolor=#cc9966 Third place play-off bgcolor=#cc9966 2–2
bgcolor=#cc9966
20 January 2002 Group stage 0–0
24 January 2002 0–0
30 January 2002 3–1
3 February 2002 Quarter-finals 0–2
27 January 2004 Group stage 2–0
31 January 2004 0–4
4 February 2004 1–1
22 January 2006 Group stage 0–2
26 January 2006 0–2
30 January 2006 0–1
23 January 2008 Group stage 1–1
27 January 2008 1–3
31 January 2008 1–1
19 January 2013 Group stage 0–0
23 January 2013 2–0
27 January 2013 2–2
2 February 2013 Quarter-finals 1–1
19 January 2015 Group stage 1–3
23 January 2015 1–1
27 January 2015 1–2
24 June 2019 Group stage 0–1
28 June 2019 1–0
1 July 2019 0–1
6 July 2019 Round of 16 1–0
10 July 2019 Quarter-finals 1–2
16 January 2024 Group stage 0–2
21 January 2024 4–0
24 January 2024 0–0
30 January 2024 Round of 16 2–0
3 February 2024 Quarter-finals 0–0
7 February 2024 Semi-finals 1–1
bgcolor=#cc9966 10 February 2024 bgcolor=#cc9966 Third place play-off bgcolor=#cc9966 0–0
bgcolor=#cc9966

Top goalscorers

See also: List of Africa Cup of Nations hat-tricks. Phil Masinga was the first player to score for South Africa at the Africa Cup of Nations (1996). Benni McCarthy was the first and so far only player to score a hat-trick for South Africa at the tournament (1998).

RankPlayerGoalsYears (goals)
1Benni McCarthy71998
2Shaun Bartlett61996 (1) and 2000 (5)
3Siyabonga Nomvethe52000 (2), 2002 and 2004 (2)
4John Moshoeu41996
Mark Williams41996

Squads

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: African Nations Cup 1957. Khaled Abul-Oyoun. Ken Knight. Neil Morrison. Karel Stokkermans. 3 October 2013. 14 May 2018.
  2. Web site: How Bafana won the 1996 Africa Cup of Nations. KickOff.
  3. Web site: When football healed a nation: South Africa's 1996 AFCON win. 12 September 2018. Sivan. John. Footy Analyst. 14 October 2023.
  4. Web site: Mali kick Bafana out of 2013 Afcon. 4 February 2013. SAnews.