The 1996 African Cup of Nations was the 20th edition of the

Africa Cup of Nations The Africa Cup of Nations referred to as AFCON (french: Coupe d'Afrique des Nations, sometimes referred to as CAN, or TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations for sponsorship reasons), and sometimes as African Cup of Nations, is the main internati ...

, the

football Football is a family of team sports that involve, to varying degrees, kicking a ball to score a goal. Unqualified, the word ''football'' normally means the form of football that is the most popular where the word is used. Sports commonly c ...

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 Nigeria ( ), , ig, Naìjíríyà, yo, Nàìjíríà, pcm, Naijá , ff, Naajeeriya, kcg, Naijeriya officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a country in West Africa. It is situated between the Sahel to the north and the Gulf o ...

withdrew from the tournament at the final moment under pressure from then-dictator

Sani Abacha Sani Abacha (20 September 1943 – 8 June 1998) was a Nigerian military officer and politician who ruled as the military head of state of Nigeria from 1993 until his death in 1998. He seized power on 17 November 1993 in the last successful c ...

, reducing the field to 15.

South Africa South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the southernmost country in Africa. It is bounded to the south by of coastline that stretch along the South Atlantic and Indian Oceans; to the north by the neighbouring countri ...

won its first championship, beating

Tunisia ) , image_map = Tunisia location (orthographic projection).svg , map_caption = Location of Tunisia in northern Africa , image_map2 = , capital = Tunis , largest_city = capital , ...

in the final 2–0.

Qualified teams

''For full qualification see: 1996 African Cup of Nations qualification'' * * * * * * * * * * * (holders)* * * (hosts) * * * *

withdrew prior to the start of the finals.

Guinea Guinea ( ),, fuf, 𞤘𞤭𞤲𞤫, italic=no, Gine, wo, Gine, nqo, ߖߌ߬ߣߍ߫, bm, Gine officially the Republic of Guinea (french: République de Guinée), is a coastal country in West Africa. It borders the Atlantic Ocean to the we ...

, 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

Venues

First round

Teams highlighted in green progress to the Quarter Finals.

Group A

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Group B

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Group C

---- ---- ---- withdrew, so their three matches were canceled. * vs. , 16 January 1996 * vs. , 19 January 1996 * vs. , 25 January 1996

Group D

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Knockout stage

Quarterfinals

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Semifinals

----

Third place match

Final

Scorers

5 goals *

Kalusha Bwalya Kalusha Bwalya (born 16 August 1963) is a Zambian former international association football, footballer. He is Zambia national football team, Zambia's Zambia national football team#Most capped players, eighth-most Cap (sport), capped player and t ...

4 goals *

John Moshoeu John "Shoes" Lesiba Moshoeu (18 December 1965 – 21 April 2015) was a South African football player who was part of the South African team that won the 1996 African Cup of Nations. He played as an attacking midfielder. Shoes, as he was best ...

* Mark Williams 3 goals *

Abedi Pele Abedi Ayew ( ; born 5 November 1964), known professionally as Abedi Pele, is a Ghanaian former professional footballer who played as an attacking midfielder and who served as captain of the Ghana national team. He is regarded as one of the g ...

Ahmed El-Kass Ahmed Abdou Abd El-Aziz El-Kass (Egyptian Arabic: ''أحمد الكاس''; born 8 July 1965), is an Egyptian football manager and former football player. Career El-Kass played for Olympic, Zamalek and Ittihad Alexandria in the Egyptian Premier ...

Imed Ben Younes Imed Ben Younes ( ar, عماد بن يونس) (born 16 June 1974) is a Tunisian former football player and current coach. He played for a few clubs in Tunisia including Étoile Sahel and CS Sfaxien and played a single season at Qatari club Al- ...

* Dennis Lota 2 goals *

Ali Meçabih Ali Meçabih ( ar, علي مصابيح; born 2 April 1972) is an Algerian former footballer. He played as a striker. History Born in Hammam Bou Hadjar, Ain Temouchent District, he was formed in US Hammam Bou Hadjar. He started playing in sen ...

* Quinzinho *

François Omam-Biyik François Omam-Biyik (born 21 May 1966) is a Cameroonian football manager and former player who works as assistant manager of Cameroon. Omam-Biyik also has French nationality. A forward, he was one of the most important players of the Cameroon ...

* Brice Mackaya *

Tony Yeboah Anthony Yeboah (born 6 June 1966) is a Ghanaian former professional footballer who played as a striker. He is considered one of the most prominent and prolific goal scorers in Ghanaian and African football history and gained a reputation for sc ...

Zoubeir Baya Zoubeir Baya (or Beya) (; born 15 May 1971) is a Tunisian former professional footballer with a distinguished career as one of his country's most accomplished football exports. Baya, an attacking midfielder, displayed considerable skill and enter ...

Adel Sellimi Adel Sellimi ( ar, عادل السليمي; born 16 November 1972) is a former football player and current manager. As a child, he drew inspiration from the 1978 World Cup team who became the first African nation to win a World Cup match. At ...

Johnson Bwalya Johnson Bwalya (born 3 December 1967) is a Zambian former professional footballer who played as a forward. He spent most of his career in Switzerland while representing the Zambia national team internationally. With Zambia, he participated at ...

Kenneth Malitoli Kenneth Malitoli (born 20 August 1966) is a Zambian coach and former association football, footballer. Nicknamed 'Bubble', Malitoli is one of Zambia's most decorated players and was Zambian league top scorer in three consecutive seasons, as wel ...

1 goal *

Billel Dziri Billel Dziri (born 21 January 1972) is an Algerian football manager and former player. After starting off with NA Hussein Dey, Dziri played most of his career with USM Alger and had spells with Étoile Sportive du Sahel in Tunisia, CS Sedan Arde ...

Tarek Lazizi Tarek "Baresi" Lazizi (born June 8, 1971) is a retired Algerian footballer in Finland. He played as a central defender. Career He was nicknamed «Baresi» after Italian defender Franco Baresi and is mostly remembered for his career-ending tack ...

Khaled Lounici Khaled Lounici (born 9 July 1967 in Algiers) is a retired Algerian professional football player and later manager. He spent the majority of his playing career with USM El Harrach. He represented Algeria in two major tournaments, which were the ...

* Joni *

Paulão Paulão is a Portuguese nickname derived from Paulo, meaning "Great Paul" or "Big Paul". Notable people known as Paulão include: * Paulão (born 1963), Brazilian volleyball player born ''Paulo André Jukoski da Silva'' *Paulão (footballer, born ...

* Aboubakari Ouédraogo * Youssouf Traoré *

Boureima Zongo Boureima Zongo (born 16 March 1972) is a Burkinabé former footballer who played as an attacking midfielder. He played in 25 matches for the Burkina Faso national team from 1992 to 2001. He was also named in Burkina Faso's squad for the 1998 Af ...

Georges Mouyémé Georges L. Mouyémé-Elong (born 15 April 1971) is a Cameroonian former professional footballer who played as forward. At club level, he played for Saint-Lô, Troyes, Angers, and Paris FC in France, for FC Homburg and Eintracht Trier in Ger ...

Alphonse Tchami Alphonse Marie Tchami Djomaha (born 14 September 1971) is a Cameroonian former professional Association football, footballer who played as a Striker (association football), striker. At international level, he represented Cameroon national footba ...

* Joël Tiéhi *

Moussa Traoré Moussa Traoré (25 September 1936 – 15 September 2020) was a Malian soldier, politician, and dictator who was President of Mali from 1968 to 1991. As a Lieutenant, he led the military ousting of President Modibo Keïta in 1968. Thereafter he ...

* Samir Ibrahim * Ali Maher * Aurelien Bekogo * Guy Nzeng *

Felix Aboagye Felix Ahmed Aboagye (born 5 December 1975) is a retired Ghanaian professional footballer who played primarily as a striker. He last professional club football for Mumbai FC in the I-League. International career He represented his homeland by ...

Charles Akonnor Charles Kwabla Akonnor (born 12 March 1974 in Accra) is a former Ghanaian international footballer who is the former manager of the Ghana national team. He played as a versatile midfielder, mostly in Germany. He started his career in Ghana wit ...

* Kwame Ayew *

Mass Sarr Jr. Mass Sarr Jr. (born February 6, 1973 in Monrovia) is a Liberian retired footballer. A forward, Sarr Jr. is a former player with Selangor FA. He was also a Liberia national football team player from 1989–2002. Playing career Sarr spent 18 mont ...

Kelvin Sebwe Kelvin Sebwe (born April 4, 1972 in Monrovia) is a Liberian retired footballer who played as a midfielder. Sebwe was also a member of the Liberia national football team. His brother is Dionysius Sebwe Dionysius "Dion" Sebwe (born March 7, 1969 ...

* Tico-Tico *

Mohamed Kallon Mohamed Kallon Order of the Rokel, MOR (born 6 October 1979) is a Sierra Leonean association football, football manager and former player who played as a striker (association football), striker. He is widely considered the most famous footballer ...

* John Gbassay Sessay *

Shaun Bartlett Shaun Bartlett (born 31 October 1972) is a South African professional Manager (association football), football manager and former Football player, player who is the manager of Cape Town Spurs F.C., Cape Town Spurs. During his playing career, h ...

Mark Fish Mark Anthony Fish (born 14 March 1974) is a retired South African footballer who played as a defender. Club career Born in Cape Town, Fish started his career in his native South Africa under the guidance of renowned coach Steve Coetsee, play ...

Phil Masinga Philemon Raul Masinga (28 June 1969 – 13 January 2019) was a South African professional footballer and manager who played as a striker from 1990 to 2002. He played in the English Premier League for Leeds United, and Italian Serie A for Salern ...

* Abdelkader Ben Hassen * Hédi Berkhissa * Kaies Ghodhbane * Liombi Essende *

Roger Lukaku Roger Menama Lukaku (born 6 June 1967) is a Congolese former footballer who played as a forward. Throughout his career, he played for KV Oostende, KV Mechelen and Germinal Ekeren. He is the father of footballers Romelu Lukaku and Jordan Lukak ...

Elijah Litana Elijah Litana (born 5 December 1970) is a Zambian former professional association football, footballer who played as a defender (association football), defender. He was part of the Zambia national football team, Zambia national team that reached ...

* Hillary Makasa * Vincent Mutale Own goal * Helder Vicente (for Cameroon)

CAF Team of the Tournament

Goalkeeper *

Chokri El Ouaer Chokri El Ouaer ( ar, شُكري الواعر) (born August 15, 1966) is a former Tunisian football goalkeeper. The Tunisian international began playing for Espérance Sportive de Tunis in 1986, spending his entire career there except for a six ...

Defenders *

Yasser Radwan Radwan Yasser or Yasser Radwan (born 22 April 1972) is an Egyptian former professional footballer who played as a midfielder A midfielder is an outfield position in association football. Midfielders may play an exclusively defensiv ...

* Isaac Asare Midfielders *

Hazem Emam Hazem Emam ( ar, حازم إمام; born 17 April 1975) is an Egyptian member of parliament. He is a member in House of Representatives and board member of Egyptian Football Association. Emam was a retired professional footballer who played as a ...

* Mark Williams Forwards *

References

External links

Details at RSSSF

{{DEFAULTSORT:1996 African Cup of Nations African Cup of Nations, 1996 Africa Cup of Nations tournaments

Nations A nation is a community of people formed on the basis of a combination of shared features such as language, history, ethnicity, culture and/or society. A nation is thus the collective identity of a group of people understood as defined by those ...

African Cup of Nations The Africa Cup of Nations referred to as AFCON (french: Coupe d'Afrique des Nations, sometimes referred to as CAN, or TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations for sponsorship reasons), and sometimes as African Cup of Nations, is the main internati ...