Comparing South Africa’s Memorable 1996 AFCON Run to 2023 Ahead of Quarter Final

• South Africa face Cape Verde in the 2023 AFCON quarter-final
• They're aiming to reach the semi-final for the first time since 2000
• Bafana Bafana won their only AFCON title in 1996 on home soil

South Africa will be looking to reach the semi-final of the Africa Cup of Nations for the first time since 2000 when they face underdogs Cape Verde in the quarter-final on Saturday, February 3.

Bafana Bafana won their only AFCON title in 1996, but have never gotten close in over 20 years, but this year seems like an excellent opportunity for them to win it again.

The 1996 AFCON was supposed to take place in Kenya, but South Africa hosted it after the East African nation pulled out, citing cost issues, per BBC.

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The 1996 edition was the first time Bafana Bafana were playing at an AFCON tournament, and it was unforgettable, per CAF. So what was their run like, and how did they lift the title?

South Africa's 1996 AFCON group stage

Clive Barker's side were placed in Group A alongside giants Cameroon, Egypt and Angola.

They comfortably dispatched then-two-time champions Cameroon 3-0 in their first game, with Philemon Masinga, Mark Williams, and John Moshoeu getting the goals.

In their second game, Mark Williams got his second goal of the tournament, which helped South Africa beat Angola 1-0.

They lost the third game with the same scoreline, and Egypt were the opponents this time.

1996 AFCON knockout stages

In the quarter-final, Bafana Bafana faced 1990 champions Algeria and secured a narrow 2-1 win to send them to the semis. Mark Fish and Moshoeu got the goals for the hosts, while Tarek Lazizi scored the only goal for the North Africans.

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In the semi-final they produced an incredible performance against four-time champions Ghana. The Black Stars boasted elite talents like Samuel Kuffour, Abedi Pele, and Tony Yeboah.

However, they couldn't stop a 3-0 thumping. Moshoeu bagged a brace while Shaun Bartlett scored the other goal.

In the final, they produced another superb performance in front of Nelson Mandela, Brazil icon Pele, and a packed Soccer City stadium to beat Tunisia 2-0 to lift their first and only AFCON title.

South Africa's 2023 AFCON so far

The current Bafana Bafana squad is made up of mainly local-based footballers, and they've shown why that can be an advantage at the tournament.

Despite a 2-0 defeat in their first Group E game against Mali, they bounced back with an emphatic 4-0 win over neighbours Namibia.

In their final group game, they drew 0-0 with Tunisia, setting up a mouth-watering clash with pre-tournament favourites Morocco in the last 16.

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Hugo Broos' side went into the match as underdogs, and not many expected them to beat a star-studded Morocco side. However, the South Africans produced arguably the biggest upset of the tournament. They beat the Atlas Lions 2-0 to knock them out.

They face Cape Verde in the quarter-final. The match against Blue Sharks is by no means a walkover. The Islanders have taken down some big names in the competition and will be a handful for South Africa.

South Africa's road to the AFCON final

Sports Brief has also reported on South Africa's road to the AFCON 2023 final, set to be played ina week's time.

They will face Cape Verde in the quarter-finals with a semis place at stake. If they prevail there, Bafana Bafana will face the winner of Nigeria versus Angola.

If they progress, South Africa could face Ivory Coast, Mali, Guinea or DR Congo in the final on February 11.