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Continental Clash: The '96 Africa Cup of Nations Unveiled

An analytical exploration of the 20th edition of Africa's premier football championship, hosted in South Africa, detailing teams, venues, match results, and tournament statistics.

Tournament Overview 👇 Key Matches 🏆

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Tournament Overview

Host Nation

The 1996 Africa Cup of Nations, also known as the Coca-Cola 1996 Africa Cup of Nations for sponsorship reasons, was the 20th edition of the championship. It was notably hosted by South Africa, who stepped in to replace the original hosts, Kenya. This marked a significant moment for South African football following its return to international competition.

Expanded Field & Withdrawal

For the first time in its history, the tournament expanded its field to accommodate 16 teams, divided into four groups of four. However, a late withdrawal by Nigeria, under political pressure from its then-dictator Sani Abacha, reduced the final participant count to 15. This alteration presented unique challenges and adjustments for the tournament structure.

Victorious Host

South Africa emerged as the champions, securing their first-ever Africa Cup of Nations title. They achieved this historic victory by defeating Tunisia 2-0 in a compelling final match, solidifying their status as a dominant force in African football.

Qualified Teams

Qualification Process

The qualification process involved teams competing in regional groups to secure their spots. South Africa qualified automatically as hosts. Nigeria qualified as holders but withdrew. The table below details the participating nations and their qualification routes.

Team Qualified As Qualified On Previous Appearances
South Africa Hosts 0 (debut)
Nigeria 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: Bold indicates champion, italics indicate host. Nigeria withdrew prior to the tournament; Guinea declined the offer to replace them.

Tournament Venues

Johannesburg

The iconic FNB Stadium in Johannesburg served as a primary venue, boasting a capacity of 80,000 spectators. It hosted several key matches, including group stage games and crucial knockout fixtures.

Durban

Kings Park Stadium in Durban, with a capacity of 52,000, was another significant venue. It provided a vibrant atmosphere for the matches played there, contributing to the tournament's overall appeal.

Bloemfontein

The Free State Stadium in Bloemfontein, with a capacity of 40,000, hosted matches in Group C and some knockout stage games, offering a central location for fans in the Free State province.

Port Elizabeth

EPRU Stadium in Port Elizabeth, with a capacity of 33,852, completed the quartet of venues, hosting matches from Group D and contributing to the geographical spread of the tournament across South Africa.

Group Stage Standings

The initial phase of the tournament saw teams competing in four groups. The top two teams from each group advanced to the knockout stage. Here are the final standings:

Group A

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

Group B

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

Group C

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
4 Burkina Faso 2 0 0 2 1 4 −3 0

Note: Nigeria's matches were cancelled due to their withdrawal.

Group D

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

Knockout Stage Progression

The tournament culminated in a series of high-stakes knockout matches, determining the continental champion.

Quarter-finals
South Africa
2–1
Algeria
27 January 1996, Johannesburg
Referee: Ali Bujsaim (UAE)
Zambia
3–1
Egypt
27 January 1996, Bloemfontein
Referee: Petros Mathabela (RSA)
Semi-finals
South Africa
3–0
Ghana
31 January 1996, Johannesburg
Referee: Lim Kee Chong (MRI)
Tunisia
4–1
Zambia
31 January 1996, Durban
Referee: Charles Masembe (UGA)
Final
South Africa
2–0
Tunisia
3 February 1996, Johannesburg
Referee: Said Belqola (MAR)
Third Place: Ghana 1–0 Zambia

Tournament Statistics

Matches Played

A total of 29 matches were contested throughout the tournament, providing ample action and drama for football enthusiasts.

Goals Scored

The tournament witnessed an average of 2.69 goals per match, with a total of 78 goals scored across all games, indicating an exciting and attacking style of play.

Attendance

The event drew significant crowds, with a total attendance of 640,880 spectators, averaging 22,099 per match, reflecting strong local and regional support.

Top Scorer

Kalusha Bwalya of Zambia emerged as the tournament's top scorer, netting an impressive 5 goals.

Best Player

Kalusha Bwalya was also recognized for his outstanding performance, being named the best player of the tournament.

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References

References

A full list of references for this article are available at the 1996 African Cup of Nations Wikipedia page

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Disclaimer

Important Notice

This page was generated by an Artificial Intelligence and is intended for informational and educational purposes only. The content is based on a snapshot of publicly available data from Wikipedia and may not be entirely accurate, complete, or up-to-date.

This is not professional sports analysis or advice. The information provided on this website is not a substitute for professional consultation regarding sports statistics, history, or event analysis. Always refer to official sources and consult with qualified professionals for specific needs.

The creators of this page are not responsible for any errors or omissions, or for any actions taken based on the information provided herein.