Who Are Bafana Bafana’s all-time Top Scorers at AFCON? Full List

Bafana Bafana are set to return to the Africa Cup of Nations under the guidance of coach Hugo Broos, with hopes of making history and rewriting the record books.

The biennial competition will be hosted by Morocco from December 21 to January 18, 2026.

As the squad prepares for the continental showpiece, several current players will be aiming to challenge the scoring feats of South African legends who lit up previous AFCON tournaments.

Players who shone for Bafana Bafana at AFCON

The late Phil Masinga etched his name into history as the first South African to score at the Africa Cup of Nations, netting in the 1996 edition — a tournament Bafana famously won under coach Clive Barker. That triumph remains South Africa’s only AFCON title to date.

Benni McCarthy stands alone as the only South African to score a hat-trick at the tournament, a feat he achieved in 1998 against Namibia. McCarthy is also the country’s all-time leading scorer at AFCON finals, with 7 goals in 12 matches.

He is followed closely by Shaun Bartlett, who scored 6 goals in 14 appearances, while Siyabonga Nomvethe rounds out the top three with 5 goals from 15 matches.

Completing the top five are John “Shoes” Moshoeu and Mark Williams, both of whom made significant contributions during their AFCON careers.

Themba Zwane in the list!

All five players in the top tier have since retired, but their records may soon be under threat. Current stars like Themba Zwane, who has already scored twice at AFCON, are leading the charge for the new generation.

The top 10 list is still dominated by retired players, with only Zwane, Bongani Zungu, and Tebogo Mokoena representing the current crop, each with 2 goals to their name.

Notably, Percy Tau, widely regarded as one of South Africa’s most talented players, sits just outside the top 10 with 1 goal. Now playing in Vietnam for Thep Xanh Nam Dinh FC and absent from recent national team selections, Tau’s chances of adding to his tally appear slim ahead of the December tournament.