The 3rd of February marks the 20th anniversary since Bafana Bafana lifted the coveted Africa Cup of Nations trophy on home soil with a heart-stopping 2-0 win over Tunisia at a packed FNB Stadium.
With South African Football Association (SAFA)’s Vision 2022 in full throttle, Technical Director and the man who led the country to that historic win, Neil Tovey, says the country is heading back to the top and implored everyone to embrace the ambitious idea.
“When we took to the field, little did we know we were creating a piece of history on the day, history that would define this country for years to come.
“We took to the field with no pressure at all and our intention was just to win the game. We never knew it would take ages to repeat the same feat but with Vision 2022, I am glad and hopeful that we are headed back to the top again,” said Tovey.
The former Bafana Bafana captain said 1996 was the greatest moment of his sporting career and thinking about receiving the trophy from the late Father of the Nation, Nelson Mandela, still gives him goosebumps.
“Images of the team receiving the trophy and celebrating the win are still idolised across the continent and the globe and one cannot ask for a better sporting memory.”
Winning coach Clive Barker says memories of 1996 come once in a lifetime and his only regret is the passing on of Sizwe Motaung and John ‘Shoes’ Moshoeu.
“I would have loved the two to be part of the 20th anniversary of this great sporting feat as they both played pivotal roles in that achievement. I remember vividly Shoes playing as a man possessed in the semifinal win over Ghana which earned him the man-of-the-match award,” remembers Barker.
“It was tremendous for the country, more so with rugby having won the World Cup a year earlier. But it was the first win over Cameroon that set the tone for the entire tournament.
“All in all, we had a special bunch of players, a group of players that was intent on achieving something for the country. In all this however, we must not forget the role played by the late Nelson Mandela in encouraging the players - he literally was the 12th player during the tournament,” added Barker.
Safa President Dr Danny Jordaan also recalled the 1996 win and promised the nation that the good times are around the corner once again.
“If one looks at the way our junior teams have performed on the continent, one will believe that Vision 2022 is the bedrock on which future success will be built.
“Our under-17s qualified for the World Cup in Chile, our under-20s won the Commonwealth Cup in Russia and missed the World Cup in New Zealand by a whisker and the under-23s are off to the 2016 Rio Olympics together with Banyana Banyana.
“The future is looking bright again and our national teams are beginning to compete with major players on the globe,” said the Safa President.
Dr Jordaan also revealed that the entire squad, the technical team and support staff will be honoured later this year at a gala dinner. The details will be announced soon.
1996 Africa Cup of Nations
Qualified Teams:
1. Algeria
2. Angola
3. Burkina Faso
4. Cameroon
5. Ivory Coast
6. Egypt
7. Gabon
8. Ghana
9. Liberia
10. Mozambique
11. Nigeria (defending champions)
12. Sierra Leone
13. South Africa (hosts)
14. Tunisia
15. Zaire
16. Zambia
BAFANA BAFANA’S 1996 ROAD TO GLORY
GROUP A
Saturday, 13 January 1996
Venue: Soccer City, Johannesburg
South Africa (2) 3 (P Masinga 14 Williams 37 Moshoeu 55)
Cameroon 0
Ref: Said Belqoba (Morocco)
SA: (4-4-2) Andre Arendse - Sizwe Motaung, Mark Fish, Neil Tovey (C), David Nyathi - Doctor Khumalo, Eric Tinkler, Linda Buthelezi (Helman Mkhalele 58th), John Moshoeu - Mark Williams (Shaun Bartlett 70th), Phil Masinga (August Makalakalane 82nd)
Coach: Clive Barker
Saturday, 20 January 1996
Venue: Soccer City, Johannesburg
South Africa (0) 1 (Williams 57)
Angola 0
Ref: Ferid Boucetta (Tunisia)
SA: (4-4-2) Andre Arendse - Sizwe Motaung, Mark Fish, Neil Tovey (C), David Nyathi - Doctor Khumalo (Lucas Radebe 76th), Eric Tinkler, Linda Buthelezi (Helman Mkhalele 71st), John Moshoeu - Mark Williams (Shaun Bartlett 88nd), Phil Masinga
Coach: Clive Barker
Wednesday, 24 January 1996
Venue: Soccer City, Johannesburg
South Africa 0
Egypt (1) 1 (El Kass 7)
Ref: Lucien Bouchardeau (Niger)
SA: (4-4-2) Andre Arendse - Sizwe Motaung, Mark Fish, Neil Tovey (C), David Nyathi - August Makalakalane (John Moshoeu 39th), Eric Tinkler, Lucas Radebe (Zane Moosa 76th), Helman Mkhalele - Mark Williams, Phil Masinga (Shaun Bartlett 71st)
Coach: Clive Barker
QUARTER-FINAL
Saturday, 27 January 1996
Venue: Soccer City, Johannesburg
South Africa (0) 2 (Fish 72 Moshoeu 85)
Algeria (0) 1 (Lazizi 84)
Ref: Ali Bujsaim (United Arab Emirates)
SA: (4-4-2) Andre Arendse - Sizwe Motaung, Mark Fish, Neil Tovey (C), David Nyathi - Doctor Khumalo, Eric Tinkler, Linda Buthelezi (Helman Mkhalele 58th), John Moshoeu - Mark Williams (Shaun Bartlett 70th), Phil Masinga (August Makalakalane 82nd)
Coach: Clive Barker
Saturday, 20 January 1996
Venue: Soccer City, Johannesburg
South Africa (0) 1 (Williams 57)
Angola 0
Ref: Ferid Boucetta (Tunisia)
SA: (4-4-2) Andre Arendse - Sizwe Motaung, Mark Fish, Neil Tovey (C), David Nyathi - Doctor Khumalo (Lucas Radebe 76th), Eric Tinkler, Linda Buthelezi (Helman Mkhalele 71st), John Moshoeu - Mark Williams (Shaun Bartlett 88nd), Phil Masinga
Coach: Clive Barker
Wednesday, 24 January 1996
Venue: Soccer City, Johannesburg
South Africa 0
Egypt (1) 1 (El Kass 7)
Ref: Lucien Bouchardeau (Niger)
SA: (4-4-2) Andre Arendse - Sizwe Motaung, Mark Fish, Neil Tovey (C), David Nyathi - August Makalakalane (John Moshoeu 39th), Eric Tinkler, Lucas Radebe (Zane Moosa 76th), Helman Mkhalele - Mark Williams, Phil Masinga (Shaun Bartlett 71st)
Coach: Clive Barker
QUARTER-FINAL
Saturday, 27 January 1996
Venue: Soccer City, Johannesburg
South Africa (0) 2 (Fish 72 Moshoeu 85)
Algeria (0) 1 (Lazizi 84)
Ref: Ali Bujsaim (United Arab Emirates).
SA: (4-4-2) Andre Arendse - Sizwe Motaung, Mark Fish, Neil Tovey
(C), Lucas Radebe - Doctor Khumalo (Helman Mkhalele 79th), Eric Tinkler, Linda Buthelezi, John Moshoeu - Mark Williams (Shaun Bartlett 76th), Phil Masinga
Coach: Clive Barker
SEMI-FINAL
Wednesday, 31 January 1996
Venue: Soccer City, Johannesburg
South Africa (1) 3 (Moshoeu 22, 87 Bartlett 46)
Ghana 0
Ref: Gamal El Ghandour (Egypt)
SA: (4-4-2) Andre Arendse - Sizwe Motaung, Mark Fish, Neil Tovey
(capt), Lucas Radebe - Doctor Khumalo, Eric Tinkler, Linda Buthelezi (John Moeti 76th), John Moshoeu - Mark Williams, Shaun Bartlett (Daniel Mudau 84th)
Coach: Clive Barker
FINAL
Saturday, 3 February 1996
Venue: Soccer City, Johannesburg
South Africa (0) 2 (Williams 72, 74)
Ref.: Charles Massembe (Uganda)
SA: (4-4-2) Andre Arendse - Sizwe Motaung, Mark Fish, Neil Tovey
(C), Lucas Radebe - Doctor Khumalo, Eric Tinkler, Linda Buthelezi (Helman Mkhalele 51st), John Moshoeu - Shaun Bartlett, Phil Masinga (Mark Williams 65th)
Coach: Clive Barker.
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