1996 African Cup of Nations

African Cup of Nations 1996 official logo

Tournament details
Host country| South Africa
Dates| 13 January – 3 February
Teams| 15
Venue(s)| 4 (in 4 host cities)
Final positions
Champions|  South Africa (1st title)
Runners-up|  Tunisia
Third place|  Zambia
Fourth place|  Ghana
Tournament statistics
Matches played| 29
Goals scored| 78 (2.69 per match)
Attendance| 640,880 (22,099 per match)
Top scorer(s)|  Kalusha Bwalya
(5 goals)
Best player(s)|  Kalusha Bwalya

← 1994

1998 →

International football competition

The 1996 African Cup of Nations, also known as the Coca-Cola 1996 Africa Cup of Nations for sponsorship reasons, was the 20th edition of the Africa Cup of Nations, the football championship of Africa (CAF). It was hosted by South Africa, who replaced original hosts Kenya. The field expanded for the first time to 16 teams, split into four groups of four; the top two teams in each group advancing to the quarterfinals. However, Nigeria withdrew from the tournament at the final moment under pressure from then-dictator Sani Abacha, reducing the field to 15.[1] South Africa won its first championship, beating Tunisia in the final 2–0.[2]

## Qualified teams

[edit]

Participating nations

For full qualification see: 1996 African Cup of Nations qualification

Team  | Qualified as  | Qualified on  | Previous appearances in tournament[a]

|
|
|

South Africa | Hosts |  | 0 (debut)
~~ Nigeria~~[b] | Holders | 10 April 1994 | 10 (1963, 1976, 1978, 1980, 1982, 1984, 1988, 1990, 1992, 1994)
Gabon | Group 5 winners | 4 June 1995 | 1 (1994)
Zaire | Group 1 winners | 4 June 1995 | 9 (1965, 1968, 1970, 1972, 1974, 1976, 1988, 1992, 1994)
Zambia | Group 5 runners-up | 15 July 1995 | 7 (1974, 1978, 1982, 1986, 1990, 1992, 1994)
Algeria | Group 4 runners-up | 30 July 1995 | 8 (1968, 1980, 1982, 1984, 1986, 1988, 1990, 1992)
Angola | Group 6 winners | 30 July 1995 | 0 (debut)
Burkina Faso | Group 7 winners | 30 July 1995 | 1 (1978)
Cameroon | Group 1 runners-up | 30 July 1995 | 8 (1970, 1972, 1982, 1984, 1986, 1988, 1990, 1992)
Egypt | Group 4 winners | 30 July 1995 | 14 (1957, 1959, 1962, 1963, 1970, 1974, 1976, 1980, 1984, 1986,
1988, 1990, 1992, 1994)
Ghana | Group 3 winners | 30 July 1995 | 10 (1963, 1965, 1968, 1970, 1978, 1980, 1982, 1984, 1992, 1994)
Ivory Coast | Group 7 runners-up | 30 July 1995 | 11 (1965, 1968, 1970, 1974, 1980, 1984, 1986, 1988, 1990, 1992,
1994)
Liberia | Group 2 runners-up | 30 July 1995 | 0 (debut)
Mozambique | Group 6 runners-up | 30 July 1995 | 1 (1986)
Sierra Leone | Group 3 runners-up | 30 July 1995 | 1 (1994)
Tunisia | Group 2 winners | 30 July 1995 | 6 (1962, 1963, 1965, 1978, 1982, 1994)

Notes

1. ^ Bold indicates champion for that year, Italic indicates host.
2. ^ Nigeria withdrew prior to the start of the finals. Guinea, as the best side to not qualify, was offered Nigeria's spot in the finals, but declined due to a lack of preparation time.

## Squads

[edit]

Main article: 1996 African Cup of Nations squads

## Venues

[edit]

Johannesburg |

Johannesburg

Durban

Bloemfontein

Port Elizabeth

| Durban

|
|

FNB Stadium | Kings Park Stadium

Capacity: 80,000 | Capacity: 52,000
Bloemfontein | Port Elizabeth
Free State Stadium | EPRU Stadium

Capacity: 40,000 | Capacity: 33,852

## First round

[edit]

Teams highlighted in green progress to the Quarter Finals.

### Group A

[edit]

Pos | Team  | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

1  |  South Africa (H) | 3  | 2  | 0  | 1  | 4  | 1  | +3  | 6  | Advance to knockout stage
2  |  Egypt | 3  | 2  | 0  | 1  | 4  | 3  | +1  | 6
3  |  Cameroon | 3  | 1  | 1  | 1  | 5  | 7  | −2  | 4  |
4  |  Angola | 3  | 0  | 1  | 2  | 4  | 6  | −2  | 1

Updated to match(es) played on unknown. Source: [citation needed]
(H) Hosts

13 January 1996

South Africa | 3–0|  Cameroon

|
|

Masinga 15'
Williams 37'
Moshoeu 55' |  |

FNB Stadium, Johannesburg

Attendance: 75,000

Referee: Said Belqola (Morocco)

* * *

15 January 1996

Egypt | 2–1|  Angola

|
|

El-Kass 30', 33' |  | Quinzinho 77'

FNB Stadium, Johannesburg

Attendance: 6,000

Referee: Sidi Bekaye Magassa (Mali)

* * *

18 January 1996

Cameroon | 2–1|  Egypt

|
|

Omam-Biyik 36' (pen.)
Tchami 59' |  | Maher 48'

FNB Stadium, Johannesburg

Attendance: 4,000

Referee: Lim Kee Chong (Mauritius)

* * *

20 January 1996

South Africa | 1–0|  Angola

|
|

Williams 57' |  |

FNB Stadium, Johannesburg

Attendance: 28,000

Referee: Fethi Boucetta (Tunisia)

* * *

24 January 1996

South Africa | 0–1|  Egypt

|
|

|  | El-Kass 7'

FNB Stadium, Johannesburg

Attendance: 20,000

Referee: Lucien Bouchardeau (Niger)

* * *

24 January 1996

Angola | 3–3|  Cameroon

|
|

Joni 38' (pen.)
Paulão 57'
Quinzinho 80' |  | Omam-Biyik 25'
Mouyeme 82'
Vicente 90' (o.g.)

Kings Park Stadium, Durban

Attendance: 6,000

Referee: Mohamed Kouradji (Algeria)

### Group B

[edit]

Pos | Team  | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

1  |  Zambia | 3  | 2  | 1  | 0  | 9  | 1  | +8  | 7  | Advance to knockout stage
2  |  Algeria | 3  | 2  | 1  | 0  | 4  | 1  | +3  | 7
3  |  Sierra Leone | 3  | 1  | 0  | 2  | 2  | 7  | −5  | 3  |
4  |  Burkina Faso | 3  | 0  | 0  | 3  | 3  | 9  | −6  | 0

Updated to match(es) played on unknown. Source: [citation needed]

14 January 1996

Zambia | 0–0|  Algeria

|
|

|  |

Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein

Attendance: 9,000

Referee: Ali Bujsaim (United Arab Emirates)

* * *

15 January 1996

Sierra Leone | 2–1|  Burkina Faso

|
|

Sessay 11'
Kallon 89' |  | Ouédraogo 74'

Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein

Attendance: 1,500

Referee: Okoampa (Ghana)

* * *

18 January 1996

Algeria | 2–0|  Sierra Leone

|
|

Meçabih 41', 63' |  |

Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein

Attendance: 1,500

Referee: Ian McLeod (South Africa)

* * *

20 January 1996

Zambia | 5–1|  Burkina Faso

|
|

Malitoli 18'
K. Bwalya 24', 35'
Lota 44'
J. Bwalya 45' |  | Y. Traoré  53'

Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein

Attendance: 2,000

Referee: Masayoshi Okada (Japan)

* * *

24 January 1996

Algeria | 2–1|  Burkina Faso

|
|

Lounici 2'
Dziri 75' |  | Zongo 83'

EPRU Stadium, Port Elizabeth

Attendance: 180

Referee: Charles Masembe (Uganda)

* * *

24 January 1996

Zambia | 4–0|  Sierra Leone

|
|

K. Bwalya 2', 9', 84'
Malitoli 87' |  |

Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein

Attendance: 200

Referee: Lim Kee Chong (Mauritius)

### Group C

[edit]

Pos | Team  | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

1  |  Gabon | 2  | 1  | 0  | 1  | 3  | 2  | +1  | 3  | Advance to knockout stage
2  |  Zaire | 2  | 1  | 0  | 1  | 2  | 2  | 0  | 3
3  |  Liberia | 2  | 1  | 0  | 1  | 2  | 3  | −1  | 3  |

Updated to match(es) played on unknown. Source: [citation needed]

16 January 1996

Gabon | 1–2|  Liberia

|
|

Nzeng 59' |  | Sebwe 5' (pen.)
Sarr 54'

Kings Park Stadium, Durban

Attendance: 5,000

Referee: Gamal Al-Ghandour (Egypt)

* * *

19 January 1996

Gabon | 2–0|  Zaire

|
|

Mackaya 21' (pen.)
Bekogo 34' |  |

Kings Park Stadium, Durban

Attendance: 4,000

Referee: Omer Yengo (Congo)

* * *

25 January 1996

Zaire | 2–0|  Liberia

|
|

Lukaku 5' (pen.)
Essende  72' |  |

FNB Stadium, Johannesburg

Attendance: 3,000

Referee: Said Belqola (Morocco)

* * *

Nigeria withdrew, so their three matches were canceled.

* vs.  Zaire, 16 January 1996
* vs.  Liberia, 19 January 1996
* vs.  Gabon, 25 January 1996

### Group D

[edit]

Pos | Team  | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

1  |  Ghana | 3  | 3  | 0  | 0  | 6  | 1  | +5  | 9  | Advance to knockout stage
2  |  Tunisia | 3  | 1  | 1  | 1  | 5  | 4  | +1  | 4
3  |  Ivory Coast | 3  | 1  | 0  | 2  | 2  | 5  | −3  | 3  |
4  |  Mozambique | 3  | 0  | 1  | 2  | 1  | 4  | −3  | 1

Updated to match(es) played on unknown. Source: [citation needed]

14 January 1996

Ghana | 2–0|  Ivory Coast

|
|

Yeboah 20'
Pelé 70' |  |

EPRU Stadium, Port Elizabeth

Attendance: 8,000

Referee: Masayoshi Okada (Japan)

* * *

16 January 1996

Tunisia | 1–1|  Mozambique

|
|

Berkhissa 24' |  | Tico-Tico 4'

EPRU Stadium, Port Elizabeth

Attendance: 1,000

Referee: Charles Masembe (Uganda)

* * *

19 January 1996

Ghana | 2–1|  Tunisia

|
|

Pelé 50'
Akonnor 77' |  | Ben Younes 72'

EPRU Stadium, Port Elizabeth

Attendance: 1,000

Referee: Petros Mathabela (South Africa)

* * *

21 January 1996

Ivory Coast | 1–0|  Mozambique

|
|

Tiéhi 32' |  |

EPRU Stadium, Port Elizabeth

Attendance: 500

Referee: Gamal Al-Ghandour (Egypt)

* * *

25 January 1996

Tunisia | 3–1|  Ivory Coast

|
|

Ben Younes 32', 38'
Ben Hassen 48' |  | M. Traoré 84'

EPRU Stadium, Port Elizabeth

Attendance: 1,000

Referee: Sidi Bekaye Magassa (Mali)

* * *

25 January 1996

Ghana | 2–0|  Mozambique

|
|

Pelé 42'
Aboagye 68' |  |

Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein

Attendance: 3,500

Referee: Ali Bujsaim (United Arab Emirates)

## Knockout stage

[edit]

| Quarter-finals| | Semi-finals| | Final

|
|
|
|
|

|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |

|  27 January – Johannesburg | | | | |

|   South Africa |  2

|  31 January – Johannesburg

|   Algeria |  1 |

|   South Africa |  3

|  28 January – Port Elizabeth

| |   Ghana |  0 |

|   Ghana |  1

| |  3 February – Johannesburg

|   Zaire |  0 |

|   South Africa |  2

|  27 January – Bloemfontein

| |   Tunisia |  0

|   Zambia |  3

|  31 January – Durban |

|   Egypt |  1 |

|   Zambia |  2

|  28 January – Durban

| |   Tunisia |  4 | | Third place

|   Gabon |  1 (1)

| |  3 February – Johannesburg

|   Tunisia (pen.) |  1 (4) |

|   Ghana |  0

|   Zambia |  1

### Quarterfinals

[edit]

27 January 1996

South Africa | 2–1|  Algeria

|
|

Fish 72'
Moshoeu 85' | Report | Lazizi 84'

FNB Stadium, Johannesburg

Attendance: 80,000

Referee: Ali Bujsaim (United Arab Emirates)

* * *

27 January 1996

Zambia | 3–1|  Egypt

|
|

Litana 58'
Mutale 65'
Lota 76' | Report | S. Kamouna 43'

Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein

Attendance: 8,500

Referee: Charles Masembe (Uganda)

* * *

28 January 1996

Gabon | 1–1 (a.e.t.)|  Tunisia

|
|

Mackaya 16' | Report | Baya 10'
Penalties
Mackaya
Ngoma
Bekogo | 1–4 |  Sellimi
Fekhi
Ben Slimane
El Ouaer

Kings Park Stadium, Durban

Attendance: 4,000

Referee: Lim Kee Chong (Mauritius)

* * *

28 January 1996

Ghana | 1–0|  Zaire

|
|

Yeboah 22' | Report |

EPRU Stadium, Port Elizabeth

Attendance: 8,000

Referee: Sidi Bekaye Magassa (Mali)

### Semifinals

[edit]

31 January 1996

South Africa | 3–0|  Ghana

|
|

Moshoeu 22', 87'
Bartlett 46' |  |

FNB Stadium, Johannesburg

Attendance: 75,000

Referee: Gamal Al-Ghandour (Egypt)

* * *

31 January 1996

Zambia | 2–4|  Tunisia

|
|

Lota 68'
Makasa 90' |  | Sellimi 16', 85' (pen.)
Baya 20'
Ghodhbane 47'

Kings Park Stadium, Durban

Attendance: 5,000

Referee: Lucien Bouchardeau (Niger)

### Third place match

[edit]

3 February 1996

Ghana | 0–1|  Zambia

|
|

|  | J. Bwalya 51'

FNB Stadium, Johannesburg

Attendance: 80,000

Referee: Omer Yengo (Congo)

### Final

[edit]

Main article: 1996 African Cup of Nations Final

3 February 1996

South Africa | 2–0|  Tunisia

|
|

Williams 73', 75' |  |

FNB Stadium, Johannesburg

Attendance: 80,000

Referee: Charles Masembe (Uganda)

## Goalscorers

[edit]

There were 78 goals scored in 29 matches, for an average of 2.69 goals per match.

5 goals

* Kalusha Bwalya

4 goals

* John Moshoeu
* Mark Williams

3 goals

* Abedi Pele
* Ahmed El-Kass
* Imed Ben Younes
* Dennis Lota

2 goals

* Ali Meçabih
* Quinzinho
* François Omam-Biyik
* Brice Mackaya
* Tony Yeboah
* Zoubeir Baya
* Adel Sellimi
* Johnson Bwalya
* Kenneth Malitoli

1 goal

* Billel Dziri
* Tarek Lazizi
* Khaled Lounici
* Joni
* Paulão
* Aboubakari Ouédraogo
* Youssouf Traoré
* Boureima Zongo
* Georges Mouyémé
* Alphonse Tchami
* Joël Tiéhi
* Moussa Traoré
* Samir Ibrahim
* Ali Maher
* Aurélien Bekogo
* Guy Nzeng
* Felix Aboagye
* Charles Akonnor
* Kwame Ayew
* Mass Sarr Jr.
* Kelvin Sebwe
* Tico-Tico
* Mohamed Kallon
* Gbassay Sessay
* Shaun Bartlett
* Mark Fish
* Phil Masinga
* Abdelkader Ben Hassen
* Hédi Berkhissa
* Kaies Ghodhbane
* Liombi Essende
* Roger Lukaku
* Elijah Litana
* Hillary Makasa
* Vincent Mutale

1 own goal

* Hélder Vicente (for Cameroon)

## CAF Team of the Tournament

[edit]

Goalkeeper

* Chokri El Ouaer

Defenders

* Yasser Radwan
* Mark Fish
* Elijah Litana
* Isaac Asare

Midfielders

* Zoubeir Baya
* Hazem Emam
* Abedi Pele
* Mark Williams

Forwards

* Kalusha Bwalya
* Tony Yeboah

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Nigerian players back boycott of finals". Independent.co.uk. 10 January 1996. Archived from the original on 1 May 2022.
2. ^ "'South Africa's Rugby World Cup win was big – but this was even bigger'". BBC Sport. 3 February 2022.

## External links

[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to 1996 African Cup of Nations.

* Details at RSSSF
* Details at www.angelfire.com

* v
* t
* e

1996 Africa Cup of Nations finalists

Champions|

* South Africa

Runners-up|

* Tunisia

Third place|

* Zambia

Fourth place|

* Ghana

Eliminated in quarter-finals|

* Algeria
* Egypt
* Gabon
* Zaire

Eliminated in group stage|

* Cameroon
* Angola
* Sierra Leone
* Burkina Faso
* Liberia
* Ivory Coast
* Mozambique

* Qualification
* Squads

* v
* t
* e

1996 African Cup of Nations stadiums

* Soccer City (Johannesburg)
* Kings Park Stadium (Durban)
* Free State Stadium (Bloemfontein)
* EPRU Stadium (Port Elizabeth)

* v
* t
* e

Africa Cup of Nations

Editions|

* Sudan 1957
* United Arab Republic 1959
* Ethiopia 1962
* Ghana 1963
* Tunisia 1965
* Ethiopia 1968
* Sudan 1970
* Cameroon 1972
* Egypt 1974
* Ethiopia 1976
* Ghana 1978
* Nigeria 1980
* Libya 1982
* Ivory Coast 1984
* Egypt 1986
* Morocco 1988
* Algeria 1990
* Senegal 1992
* Tunisia 1994
* South Africa 1996
* Burkina Faso 1998
* Ghana/Nigeria 2000
* Mali 2002
* Tunisia 2004
* Egypt 2006
* Ghana 2008
* Angola 2010
* Gabon/Equatorial Guinea 2012
* South Africa 2013
* Equatorial Guinea 2015
* Gabon 2017
* Egypt 2019
* Cameroon 2021
* Ivory Coast 2023
* Morocco 2025
* Kenya/Tanzania/Uganda 2027
* TBD 2029

Qualification|

* 1957
* 1959
* 1962
* 1963
* 1965
* 1968
* 1970
* 1972
* 1974
* 1976
* 1978
* 1980
* 1982
* 1984
* 1986
* 1988
* 1990
* 1992
* 1994
* 1996
* 1998
* 2000
* 2002
* 2004
* 2006
* 2008
* 2010
* 2012
* 2013
* 2015
* 2017
* 2019
* 2021
* 2023
* 2025

Finals|

* 1957
* 1959
* 1962
* 1963
* 1965
* 1968
* 1970
* 1972
* 1974
* 1976
* 1978
* 1980
* 1982
* 1984
* 1986
* 1988
* 1990
* 1992
* 1994
* 1996
* 1998
* 2000
* 2002
* 2004
* 2006
* 2008
* 2010
* 2012
* 2013
* 2015
* 2017
* 2019
* 2021
* 2023
* 2025

Bids|

* 2027
* 2029

Squads|

* 1957
* 1959
* 1962
* 1963
* 1965
* 1968
* 1970
* 1972
* 1974
* 1976
* 1978
* 1980
* 1982
* 1984
* 1986
* 1988
* 1990
* 1992
* 1994
* 1996
* 1998
* 2000
* 2002
* 2004
* 2006
* 2008
* 2010
* 2012
* 2013
* 2015
* 2017
* 2019
* 2021
* 2023

Statistics|

* Finals
* Appearances
* Awards
* Records and statistics
* Hat-tricks

Miscellaneous|

* Balls
* Mascots
* Music
* Trophy

Notes
The 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
*[Pos]: Position
*[Pld]: Played
*[W]: Won
*[D]: Drawn
*[L]: Lost
*[GF]: Goals for
*[GA]: Goals against
*[GD]: Goal difference
*[Pts]: Points
*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template