Bafana’s goals have come from exactly 50 matches at the Cup of Nations finals, a little over one goal per game, not the greatest record in the world.
Indeed, on their way to the bronze medal at the 2023 edition, Bafana did not score in four of their seven games, and finished with seven goals overall, which included a 4-0 win over Namibia. The only other teams they netted against were Morocco (2-0) and Nigeria (1-1).
Only five Bafana players have more than two goals at the finals, all of them big names for the national team.
The late John ‘Shoes’ Moshoeu scored four goals, all of which came in the victorious 1996 edition. His winner against Algeria in the quarter-finals and his brace versus Ghana in the semis live long in the memory.
Mark Williams also scored all four of his finals goals 30 years ago, and his brace in the decider against Tunisia is the stuff of legend.
Siyabonga Nomvethe scored five goals at the finals, including against Ghana and Tunisia in 2000 as Bafana took bronze, and in a crucial 3-1 win over Morocco in 2002. His last goals were a brace versus Benin in an otherwise ill-fated campaign in 2004.
Shaun Bartlett finished as the leading scorer at the 2000 Cup of Nations with five goals, but his most memorable was in the 1996 semi-final against Ghana, a fantastic strike. His six goals in all put him at number two on the list.
But Bafana’s greatest scorer at the Cup of Nations is also their record-holder for goals in a national team jersey, with seven of Benni McCarthy’s 31 strikes coming at the continental showpiece.
Most famously, four of those came in a 13-minute spell against Namibia in 1998, and he ended with the Golden Boot at that tournament after also netting against Morocco and scoring twice against DR Congo. He was suspended for the final, which Bafana lost 2-0 to Egypt.
He should have scored a whole lot more goals at Cup of Nations finals, but his various disputes with SAFA limited his appearances at the continental showpiece.
Only three defenders have found the back of the net at the finals – Mark Fish in the quarter-finals against Algeria in 1996, David Nyathi in the quarter-finals against Morocco in 1998 and Siyabonga Sangweni, who netted twice in 2013, against Angola and Morocco.
The only two members of the current Bafana squad heading to Morocco for the finals starting next week who have scored at the tournament are midfielder Teboho Mokoena and Evidence Makgopa, both at the 2023 edition.
Mokoena scored a screamer of a free-kick against Morocco in the Round of 16 victory and a penalty in the 1-1 semi-final draw with Nigeria that ended in a shoot-out loss.
Makgopa also scored against the Moroccans in a major upset win for Bafana.
Current assistant coach Helman Mkhalele does have a goal though, he netted a penalty against Ivory Coast in 1998.
Bafana Bafana goalscorers at the Africa Cup of Nations
7 goals - Benedict McCarthy
6 - Shaun Bartlett
5 - Siyabonga Nomvethe
4 - John Moshoeu, Mark Williams
2 - Siyabonga Sangweni, Elrio van Heerden, Teboho Mokoena, Bongani Zungu, Themba Zwane
1 - Mark Fish, Thembinkosi Lorch, May Mahlangu, Evidence Makgopa, Lehlohonolo Majoro, Oupa Manyisa, Mandla Masango, Thapelo Maseko, Philemon Masinga, Patrick Mayo, Helman Mkhalele, Thabo Mngomeni, Katlego Mphela, Dumisa Ngobe, David Nyathi, Thuso Phala, Tokelo Rantie, Percy Tau, Sibusiso Zuma