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.
Africa Cup of Nations record | ||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Year | Round | Position | Pld | W | D* | L | GF | GA |
1957 | Disqualified due to apartheid | |||||||
1959 | Banned | |||||||
1962 | ||||||||
1963 | ||||||||
1965 | ||||||||
1968 | ||||||||
1970 | ||||||||
1972 | ||||||||
1974 | ||||||||
1976 | ||||||||
1978 | ||||||||
1980 | ||||||||
1982 | ||||||||
1984 | ||||||||
1986 | ||||||||
1988 | ||||||||
1990 | ||||||||
1992 | ||||||||
1994 | Did not qualify | |||||||
1996 | Champions | 1st | 6 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 11 | 2 |
1998 | Runners-up | 2nd | 6 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 9 | 6 |
2000 | Third place | 3rd | 6 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 8 | 6 |
2002 | Quarter-finals | 6th | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 3 |
2004 | Group stage | 11th | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 5 |
2006 | 16th | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 5 | |
2008 | 13th | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 5 | |
2010 | Did not qualify | |||||||
2012 | ||||||||
2013 | Quarter-finals | 6th | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 3 |
2015 | Group stage | 15th | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 6 |
2017 | Did not qualify | |||||||
2019 | Quarter-finals | 7th | 5 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 4 |
2021 | Did not qualify | |||||||
2023 | Third place | 3rd | 7 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 7 | 3 |
2025 | To be determined | |||||||
2027 | ||||||||
Total | 1 Title | 11/34 | 50 | 18 | 16 | 16 | 55 | 48 |
South Africa's Africa Cup of Nations record | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
First Match | |||||
Biggest Win | |||||
Biggest Defeat | |||||
Best Result | Champions in 1996 | ||||
Worst Result | 16th place in 2006 |
Year | Date | Location | Round | Opponent | Result | South Africa scorers |
1996 | 13 January 1996 | Johannesburg | Group stage | Cameroon | 3–0 | Phil Masinga 15' Mark Williams 37' John Moshoeu 55' |
20 January 1996 | Angola | 1–0 | Mark Williams 57' | |||
24 January 1996 | Egypt | 0–1 | ||||
27 January 1996 | Quarter-finals | Algeria | 2–1 | Mark Fish 72' John Moshoeu 85' | ||
31 January 1996 | Semi-finals | Ghana | 3–0 | John Moshoeu 22', 87' Shaun Bartlett 46' | ||
3 February 1996 | Final | Tunisia | 2–0 | Mark Williams 73', 75' | ||
1998 | 8 February 1998 | Bobo-Dioulasso | Group stage | Angola | 0–0 | |
11 February 1998 | Ivory Coast | 1–1 | Helman Mkhalele 8' (pen.) | |||
16 February 1998 | Namibia | 4–1 | Benni McCarthy 8', 11', 19', 21' | |||
22 February 1998 | Ouagadougou | Quarter-finals | Morocco | 2–1 | Benni McCarthy 22' David Nyathi 79' | |
25 February 1998 | Semi-finals | DR Congo | 2–1 ( a.e.t. ) | Benni McCarthy 60', 112' | ||
28 February 1998 | Final | Egypt | 0–2 | |||
2000 | 23 January 2000 | Kumasi | Group stage | Gabon | 3–1 | Dumisa Ngobe 43' Shaun Bartlett 55', 78' |
27 January 2000 | DR Congo | 1–0 | Shaun Bartlett 44' | |||
2 February 2000 | Algeria | 1–1 | Shaun Bartlett 2' | |||
6 February 2000 | Quarter-finals | Ghana | 1–0 | Siyabonga Nomvethe 42' | ||
10 February 2000 | Lagos | Semi-finals | Nigeria | 0–2 | ||
12 February 2000 | Accra | Third place play-off | Tunisia | 2–2 (4–3 p) | Shaun Bartlett 11' Siyabonga Nomvethe 62' | |
2002 | 20 January 2002 | Ségou | Group stage | Burkina Faso | 0–0 | |
24 January 2002 | Ghana | 0–0 | ||||
30 January 2002 | Morocco | 3–1 | Sibusiso Zuma 42' Thabo Mngomeni 48' Siyabonga Nomvethe 51' | |||
3 February 2002 | Kayes | Quarter-finals | Mali | 0–2 | ||
2004 | 27 January 2004 | Sfax | Group stage | Benin | 2–0 | Siyabonga Nomvethe 58', 76' |
31 January 2004 | Monastir | Nigeria | 0–4 | |||
4 February 2004 | Sousse | Morocco | 1–1 | Patrick Mayo 29' | ||
2006 | 22 January 2006 | Alexandria | Group stage | Guinea | 0–2 | |
26 January 2006 | Tunisia | 0–2 | ||||
30 January 2006 | Zambia | 0–1 | ||||
2008 | 23 January 2008 | Tamale | Group stage | Angola | 1–1 | Elrio van Heerden 87' |
27 January 2008 | Tunisia | 1–3 | Katlego Mphela 87' | |||
31 January 2008 | Kumasi | Senegal | 1–1 | Elrio van Heerden 14' | ||
2013 | 19 January 2013 | Johannesburg | Group stage | Cape Verde | 0–0 | |
23 January 2013 | Durban | Angola | 2–0 | Siyabonga Sangweni 30' Lehlohonolo Majoro 62' | ||
27 January 2013 | Morocco | 2–2 | May Mahlangu 71' Siyabonga Sangweni 86' | |||
2 February 2013 | Quarter-finals | Mali | 1–1 (1–3 p) | Tokelo Rantie 31' | ||
2015 | 19 January 2015 | Mongomo | Group stage | Algeria | 1–3 | Thuso Phala 51' |
23 January 2015 | Senegal | 1–1 | Oupa Manyisa 47' | |||
27 January 2015 | Ghana | 1–2 | Mandla Masango 17' | |||
2019 | 24 June 2019 | Cairo | Group stage | Ivory Coast | 0–1 | |
28 June 2019 | Namibia | 1–0 | Bongani Zungu 68' | |||
1 July 2019 | Morocco | 0–1 | ||||
6 July 2019 | Round of 16 | Egypt | 1–0 | Thembinkosi Lorch 85' | ||
10 July 2019 | Quarter-finals | Nigeria | 1–2 | Bongani Zungu 71' | ||
2023 | 16 January 2024 | Korhogo | Group stage | Mali | 0–2 | |
21 January 2024 | Namibia | 4–0 | Percy Tau 14' (pen.) Themba Zwane 25', 40' Thapelo Maseko 75' | |||
24 January 2024 | Tunisia | 0–0 | ||||
30 January 2024 | San Pédro | Round of 16 | Morocco | 2–0 | Thapelo Maseko 57' Teboho Mokoena 90+5' | |
3 February 2024 | Yamoussoukro | Quarter-finals | Cape Verde | 0–0 (2–1 p) | ||
7 February 2024 | Bouaké | Semi-finals | Nigeria | 1–1 (2–4 p) | Teboho Mokoena 90' (pen.) | |
10 February 2024 | Abidjan | Third place play-off | DR Congo | 0–0 (6–5 p) |
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).
Rank | Player | Goals | Years (goals) |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Benni McCarthy | 7 | 1998 |
2 | Shaun Bartlett | 6 | 1996 (1) and 2000 (5) |
3 | Siyabonga Nomvethe | 5 | 2000 (2), 2002 and 2004 (2) |
4 | John Moshoeu | 4 | 1996 |
Mark Williams | 4 | 1996 |
The Africa Cup of Nations, commonly abbreviated as AFCON and officially known as the TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations for sponsorship reasons, is the main international men's association football competition in Africa. It is sanctioned by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and was first held in 1957. Since 1968, it has been held every two years, switching to odd-numbered years in 2013.
The Nigeria national football team represents Nigeria in men's international football. Governed by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), they are three-time Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) winners, with their most recent title in 2013. In February 2024, the Nigerian national football team was ranked 28th in the FIFA rankings. The team has qualified for six of the last eight FIFA World Cups, missing only the 2006 and 2022 editions. They have reached the round of 16 on three occasions. Their first World Cup appearance was the 1994 edition. The team is a member of FIFA and Confederation of African Football (CAF).
The Senegal national football team, nicknamed Les Lions de la Teranga, represents Senegal in international association football and is operated by the Senegalese Football Federation. They are the current champions of the African Nations Championship.
The South Africa men's national soccer team represents South Africa in men's international soccer and it is run by the South African Football Association, the governing body for Soccer in South Africa. The team's nickname is Bafana Bafana, and South Africa's home ground is FNB Stadium, which is located in Johannesburg. The team's greatest result was winning the Africa Cup of Nations at home in 1996. The team is a member of both FIFA and Confederation of African Football (CAF). The team remains one of the best teams on the continent.
The Egypt national football team, nicknamed "Pharaohs", represents Egypt in men's international football, and is governed by the Egyptian Football Association (EFA), the governing body of football in Egypt.
The Algeria national football team represents Algeria in men's international football, and is governed by the Algerian Football Federation. The team plays their home matches at the 5 July Stadium in Algiers and Miloud Hadefi Stadium in Oran. Algeria joined FIFA on 1 January 1964, a year and a half after gaining independence. They are the current champions of the FIFA Arab Cup.
The Tunisia national football team represents Tunisia in men's international association football. The team is a member of both FIFA and CAF, the Confederation of African Football. It is governed by the Tunisian Football Federation, founded in 1957. Colloquially known as the Eagles of Carthage, the team's colours are red and white, and the bald eagle is its symbol. Most of Tunisia's home matches are played at the Hammadi Agrebi Stadium in Radès since 2001.
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