South Africa at the Africa Cup of Nations

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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.

Contents

Overall record

Africa Cup of Nations record
YearRoundPositionPldWD*LGFGA
Flag of Sudan (1956-1970).svg 1957 Disqualified due to apartheid
Flag of the United Arab Republic.svg 1959 Banned
Flag of Ethiopia (1897-1936; 1941-1974).svg 1962
Flag of Ghana.svg 1963
Flag of Tunisia (1959-1999).svg 1965
Flag of Ethiopia (1897-1936; 1941-1974).svg 1968
Flag of Sudan (1956-1970).svg 1970
Flag of Cameroon (1961-1975).svg 1972
Flag of Egypt (1972-1984).svg 1974
Flag of Ethiopia (1975-1987).svg 1976
Flag of Ghana.svg 1978
Flag of Nigeria.svg 1980
Flag of Libya (1977-2011).svg 1982
Flag of Cote d'Ivoire.svg 1984
Flag of Egypt.svg 1986
Flag of Morocco.svg 1988
Flag of Algeria.svg 1990
Flag of Senegal.svg 1992
Flag of Tunisia (1959-1999).svg 1994 Did not qualify
Flag of South Africa.svg 1996 Champions 1st6501112
Flag of Burkina Faso.svg 1998 Runners-up 2nd632196
Flag of Ghana.svg Flag of Nigeria.svg 2000 Third place3rd632186
Flag of Mali.svg 2002 Quarter-finals6th412133
Flag of Tunisia.svg 2004 Group stage11th311135
Flag of Egypt.svg 2006 16th300305
Flag of Ghana.svg 2008 13th302135
Flag of Angola.svg 2010 Did not qualify
Flag of Equatorial Guinea.svg Flag of Gabon.svg 2012
Flag of South Africa.svg 2013 Quarter-finals6th412153
Flag of Equatorial Guinea.svg 2015 Group stage15th301236
Flag of Gabon.svg 2017 Did not qualify
Flag of Egypt.svg 2019 Quarter-finals7th520334
Flag of Cameroon.svg 2021 Did not qualify
Flag of Cote d'Ivoire.svg 2023 Third place3rd724173
Flag of Morocco.svg 2025 Qualified
Flag of Kenya.svg Flag of Tanzania.svg Flag of Uganda.svg 2027 To be determined
Total1 Title12/35501816165548
*Red border colour indicates tournament was held on home soil.

Match history

YearDateLocationRoundOpponentResultSouth Africa scorers
Flag of South Africa.svg 1996 13 January 1996 Johannesburg Group stageFlag of Cameroon.svg  Cameroon 3–0 Phil Masinga Soccerball shade.svg15'
Mark Williams Soccerball shade.svg37'
John Moshoeu Soccerball shade.svg55'
20 January 1996Flag of Angola.svg  Angola 1–0 Mark Williams Soccerball shade.svg57'
24 January 1996Flag of Egypt.svg  Egypt 0–1
27 January 1996Quarter-finalsFlag of Algeria.svg  Algeria 2–1 Mark Fish Soccerball shade.svg72'
John Moshoeu Soccerball shade.svg85'
31 January 1996Semi-finalsFlag of Ghana.svg  Ghana 3–0 John Moshoeu Soccerball shade.svg22', 87'
Shaun Bartlett Soccerball shade.svg46'
3 February 1996 Final Flag of Tunisia.svg  Tunisia 2–0 Mark Williams Soccerball shade.svg73', 75'
Flag of Burkina Faso.svg 1998 8 February 1998 Bobo-Dioulasso Group stageFlag of Angola.svg  Angola 0–0
11 February 1998Flag of Cote d'Ivoire.svg  Ivory Coast 1–1 Helman Mkhalele Soccerball shade.svg8' (pen.)
16 February 1998Flag of Namibia.svg  Namibia 4–1 Benni McCarthy Soccerball shade.svg8', 11', 19', 21'
22 February 1998 Ouagadougou Quarter-finalsFlag of Morocco.svg  Morocco 2–1 Benni McCarthy Soccerball shade.svg22'
David Nyathi Soccerball shade.svg79'
25 February 1998Semi-finalsFlag of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (1997-2003).svg  DR Congo 2–1 ( a.e.t. ) Benni McCarthy Soccerball shade.svg60', 112'
28 February 1998 Final Flag of Egypt.svg  Egypt 0–2
Flag of Ghana.svg Flag of Nigeria.svg 2000 23 January 2000 Kumasi Group stageFlag of Gabon.svg  Gabon 3–1 Dumisa Ngobe Soccerball shade.svg43'
Shaun Bartlett Soccerball shade.svg55', 78'
27 January 2000Flag of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (1997-2003).svg  DR Congo 1–0 Shaun Bartlett Soccerball shade.svg44'
2 February 2000Flag of Algeria.svg  Algeria 1–1 Shaun Bartlett Soccerball shade.svg2'
6 February 2000Quarter-finalsFlag of Ghana.svg  Ghana 1–0 Siyabonga Nomvethe Soccerball shade.svg42'
10 February 2000 Lagos Semi-finalsFlag of Nigeria.svg  Nigeria 0–2
12 February 2000 Accra Third place play-offFlag of Tunisia.svg  Tunisia 2–2
(4–3 p)
Shaun Bartlett Soccerball shade.svg11'
Siyabonga Nomvethe Soccerball shade.svg62'
Flag of Mali.svg 2002 20 January 2002 Ségou Group stageFlag of Burkina Faso.svg  Burkina Faso 0–0
24 January 2002Flag of Ghana.svg  Ghana 0–0
30 January 2002Flag of Morocco.svg  Morocco 3–1 Sibusiso Zuma Soccerball shade.svg42'
Thabo Mngomeni Soccerball shade.svg48'
Siyabonga Nomvethe Soccerball shade.svg51'
3 February 2002 Kayes Quarter-finalsFlag of Mali.svg  Mali 0–2
Flag of Tunisia.svg 2004 27 January 2004 Sfax Group stageFlag of Benin.svg  Benin 2–0 Siyabonga Nomvethe Soccerball shade.svg58', 76'
31 January 2004 Monastir Flag of Nigeria.svg  Nigeria 0–4
4 February 2004 Sousse Flag of Morocco.svg  Morocco 1–1 Patrick Mayo Soccerball shade.svg29'
Flag of Egypt.svg 2006 22 January 2006 Alexandria Group stageFlag of Guinea.svg  Guinea 0–2
26 January 2006Flag of Tunisia.svg  Tunisia 0–2
30 January 2006Flag of Zambia.svg  Zambia 0–1
Flag of Ghana.svg 2008 23 January 2008 Tamale Group stageFlag of Angola.svg  Angola 1–1 Elrio van Heerden Soccerball shade.svg87'
27 January 2008Flag of Tunisia.svg  Tunisia 1–3 Katlego Mphela Soccerball shade.svg87'
31 January 2008 Kumasi Flag of Senegal.svg  Senegal 1–1 Elrio van Heerden Soccerball shade.svg14'
Flag of South Africa.svg 2013 19 January 2013 Johannesburg Group stageFlag of Cape Verde.svg  Cape Verde 0–0
23 January 2013 Durban Flag of Angola.svg  Angola 2–0 Siyabonga Sangweni Soccerball shade.svg30'
Lehlohonolo Majoro Soccerball shade.svg62'
27 January 2013Flag of Morocco.svg  Morocco 2–2 May Mahlangu Soccerball shade.svg71'
Siyabonga Sangweni Soccerball shade.svg86'
2 February 2013Quarter-finalsFlag of Mali.svg  Mali 1–1
(1–3 p)
Tokelo Rantie Soccerball shade.svg31'
Flag of Equatorial Guinea.svg 2015 19 January 2015 Mongomo Group stageFlag of Algeria.svg  Algeria 1–3 Thuso Phala Soccerball shade.svg51'
23 January 2015Flag of Senegal.svg  Senegal 1–1 Oupa Manyisa Soccerball shade.svg47'
27 January 2015Flag of Ghana.svg  Ghana 1–2 Mandla Masango Soccerball shade.svg17'
Flag of Egypt.svg 2019 24 June 2019 Cairo Group stageFlag of Cote d'Ivoire.svg  Ivory Coast 0–1
28 June 2019Flag of Namibia.svg  Namibia 1–0 Bongani Zungu Soccerball shade.svg68'
1 July 2019Flag of Morocco.svg  Morocco 0–1
6 July 2019Round of 16Flag of Egypt.svg  Egypt 1–0 Thembinkosi Lorch Soccerball shade.svg85'
10 July 2019Quarter-finalsFlag of Nigeria.svg  Nigeria 1–2 Bongani Zungu Soccerball shade.svg71'
Flag of Cote d'Ivoire.svg 2023 16 January 2024 Korhogo Group stageFlag of Mali.svg  Mali 0–2
21 January 2024Flag of Namibia.svg  Namibia 4–0 Percy Tau Soccerball shade.svg14' (pen.)
Themba Zwane Soccerball shade.svg25', 40'
Thapelo Maseko Soccerball shade.svg75'
24 January 2024Flag of Tunisia.svg  Tunisia 0–0
30 January 2024 San Pédro Round of 16Flag of Morocco.svg  Morocco 2–0 Thapelo Maseko Soccerball shade.svg57'
Teboho Mokoena Soccerball shade.svg90+5'
3 February 2024 Yamoussoukro Quarter-finalsFlag of Cape Verde.svg  Cape Verde 0–0
(2–1 p)
7 February 2024 Bouaké Semi-finalsFlag of Nigeria.svg  Nigeria 1–1
(2–4 p)
Teboho Mokoena Soccerball shade.svg90' (pen.)
10 February 2024 Abidjan Third place play-offFlag of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.svg  DR Congo 0–0
(6–5 p)

Top goalscorers

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).

Benni McCarthy is South Africa's all-time top goalscorer at the Africa Cup of Nations. BenniMcCarthy.jpg
Benni McCarthy is South Africa's all-time top goalscorer at the Africa Cup of Nations.
RankPlayerGoalsYears (goals)
1 Benni McCarthy 71998
2 Shaun Bartlett 61996 (1) and 2000 (5)
3 Siyabonga Nomvethe 52000 (2), 2002 and 2004 (2)
4 John Moshoeu 41996
Mark Williams 41996

Squads

See also

References

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