South Africa hosted the 20th ACN competition in 1996, marking its first ever appearance after a decades-long ban was lifted with the end of apartheid in the country, which had been followed by a failed attempt to qualify in 1994. The number of final-round participants in 1996 was expanded to 16, split into four groups. However, the actual number of teams playing in the final was only 15, for Nigeria withdrew from the tournament at the final moment for political reasons. "Bafana Bafana" won their first title on home soil, defeating Tunisia in the final.