On this day in 1996, the Bafana Bafana team was crowned as the kings of Africa when they defied all the odds and defeated Tunisia in the Africa Cup of Nations final.
South Africa were elected hosts of the 1996 Africa Cup of Nations tournament after initial hosts Kenya had to withdraw. It was Bafana Bafana’s first appearance in the tournament since readmission, after failing to qualify for the 1994 edition. South Africa had only been readmitted just four years prior to the tournament and were generally thought of as the underdogs.
Under coach Clive Barker however, they soon proved to be quite a strong side when they topped their group following victories over Angola (1–0) and Cameroon (3–0). In the quarterfinals, Bafana faced Group B runners-up, Algeria, defeating them 2–1, setting up a clash with what seemed to be the strongest team in the tournament – Ghana. Ghana had been the only remaining unbeaten side in the tournament, this until they faced Bafana in the semifinal and were beaten 3–0.
Much to everyone’s surprise, Bafana had made it to the final where they had to face Tunisia, which had finished as runners-up in Group D. A team spurred on by the support of millions of South Africans, Bafana Bafana put on a strong display and thanks to two goals from Mark Williams were able to brush aside the Tunisians 2–0.
It was a historic moment for South Africa and African soccer at large, and a victory that made Clive Barker and his team national heroes embedded in the memory of every South African soccer fan. Bafana’s success laid a solid platform for what was to come for South African soccer over the next two years as they finished second at the 1998 Afcon, and qualified for the Fifa World Cup for the first time as well.
You can relive some of the magic moments here:
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