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

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

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).



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