Abstract

Apart from tactics and strategy, identifying the right team characteristics contributes to high team performance. Empirical evidence on the relationship between team characteristics and performance is lacking. This article investigates team characteristics as an essential component of constituting national teams in the context of African Cup of Nations (AFCON) tournaments. The study examines four dimensions of team characteristics to determine their effect on a team winning medals in tournaments. Using over two decades of AFCON data, performances of thirty-eight countries were studied. Findings show significant marginal effect of team mix, young talent, team experience, and international ranking on performance, which supported in developing a model for tournament medal winners. The study can inform management decision on the right kind of recruits to yield high organizational performance (productivity). This article has implications for related disciplines in management science, which rely on teamwork, cohesion, and diversity to achieve organizational objectives.