South Africa at the Africa Cup of Nations

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), 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. 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. 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 recordYearRoundPosition* 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 2025Round of 1610th420266 2027To be determinedTotal1 Title12/35501816165548

*Red border colour indicates tournament was held on home soil.

South Africa's Africa Cup of Nations recordFirst Match 3–0 (13 January 1996; Johannesburg, South Africa)Biggest Win 4–0 (21 January 2024; Korhogo, Ivory Coast)Biggest Defeat 4–0 (31 January 2004; Monastir, Tunisia)Best ResultChampions in 1996Worst Result16th place in 2006

Match history Year Date Location Round Opponent Result South Africa scorers 1996 13 January 1996 Johannesburg Group stage 3–0 Phil Masinga Mark Williams John Moshoeu 20 January 1996 1–0 Mark Williams 24 January 1996 0–1 27 January 1996 Quarter-finals 2–1 Mark Fish John Moshoeu 31 January 1996 Semi-finals 3–0 John Moshoeu Shaun Bartlett 3 February 1996 Final 2–0 Mark Williams 1998 8 February 1998 Bobo-Dioulasso Group stage 0–0 11 February 1998 1–1 Helman Mkhalele 16 February 1998 4–1 Benni McCarthy 22 February 1998 Ouagadougou Quarter-finals 2–1 Benni McCarthy David Nyathi 25 February 1998 Semi-finals 2–1 Benni McCarthy 28 February 1998 Final 0–2 2000 23 January 2000 Kumasi Group stage 3–1 Dumisa Ngobe Shaun Bartlett 27 January 2000 1–0 Shaun Bartlett 2 February 2000 1–1 Shaun Bartlett 6 February 2000 Quarter-finals 1–0 Siyabonga Nomvethe 10 February 2000 Lagos Semi-finals 0–2 12 February 2000 Accra Third place play-off 2–2 Shaun Bartlett Siyabonga Nomvethe 2002 20 January 2002 Ségou Group stage 0–0 24 January 2002 0–0 30 January 2002 3–1 Sibusiso Zuma Thabo Mngomeni Siyabonga Nomvethe 3 February 2002 Kayes Quarter-finals 0–2 2004 27 January 2004 Sfax Group stage 2–0 Siyabonga Nomvethe 31 January 2004 Monastir 0–4 4 February 2004 Sousse 1–1 Patrick Mayo 2006 22 January 2006 Alexandria Group stage 0–2 26 January 2006 0–2 30 January 2006 0–1 2008 23 January 2008 Tamale Group stage 1–1 Elrio van Heerden 27 January 2008 1–3 Katlego Mphela 31 January 2008 Kumasi 1–1 Elrio van Heerden 2013 19 January 2013 Johannesburg Group stage 0–0 23 January 2013 Durban 2–0 Siyabonga Sangweni Lehlohonolo Majoro 27 January 2013 2–2 May Mahlangu Siyabonga Sangweni 2 February 2013 Quarter-finals 1–1 Tokelo Rantie 2015 19 January 2015 Mongomo Group stage 1–3 Thuso Phala 23 January 2015 1–1 Oupa Manyisa 27 January 2015 1–2 Mandla Masango 2019 24 June 2019 Cairo Group stage 0–1 28 June 2019 1–0 Bongani Zungu 1 July 2019 0–1 6 July 2019 Round of 16 1–0 Thembinkosi Lorch 10 July 2019 Quarter-finals 1–2 Bongani Zungu 2023 16 January 2024 Korhogo Group stage 0–2 21 January 2024 4–0 Percy Tau Themba Zwane Thapelo Maseko 24 January 2024 0–0 30 January 2024 San Pédro Round of 16 2–0 Thapelo Maseko Teboho Mokoena 3 February 2024 Yamoussoukro Quarter-finals 0–0 7 February 2024 Bouaké Semi-finals 1–1 Teboho Mokoena 10 February 2024 Abidjan Third place play-off 0–0 202522 December 2025MarrakeshGroup Stage Angola2 –1Oswin Appollis Lyle Foster 26 December 2025 Egypt0 –129 December 2025 Zimbabwe3 –2Tshepang Moremi Lyle Foster Oswin Appollis 4 January 2026RabatRound of 16 Cameroon1 –2Evidence Makgopa

Top goalscorers

Phil Masinga was the first player to score for South Africa on their first ever match at the Africa Cup of Nations (1996), on their 3-0 victory against Cameroon at the opening game of the tournament, 13 January 1996, FNB Stadium, Johannesburg. Benni McCarthy was the first and so far only player to score a hat-trick for South Africa at the tournament (1998), on their 4-0 victory against Namibia, 16 February 1998, Stade Général Aboubacar Sangoulé Lamizana, Bobo-Dioulasso.

RankPlayerGoalsYears (goals)1Benni McCarthy719982Shaun Bartlett61996 (1) and 2000 (5)3Siyabonga Nomvethe52000 (2), 2002 and 2004 (2)4John Moshoeu41996Mark Williams41996

Squads

1996 Africa Cup of Nations squad 1998 Africa Cup of Nations squad 2000 Africa Cup of Nations squad 2002 Africa Cup of Nations squad 2004 Africa Cup of Nations squad 2006 Africa Cup of Nations squad 2008 Africa Cup of Nations squad 2013 Africa Cup of Nations squad 2015 Africa Cup of Nations squad 2019 Africa Cup of Nations squad 2023 Africa Cup of Nations squad 2025 Africa Cup of Nations squad

See also South Africa at the CONCACAF Gold Cup South Africa at the FIFA Confederations Cup South Africa at the FIFA World Cup

References

External links Africa Cup of Nations – Archives competitions – cafonline.com