Latest news with #MolefiNtseki
CAF
11-05-2025
- Sport
- CAF
Neo Maema sends Bafana Bafana to TotalEnergies CHAN 2024 finals
South Africa sealed their place to the TotalEnergies CAF African Nations Championship (CHAN) 2024 finals with a hard-fought 2-0 victory over Malawi at the Loftus Stadium in Pretoria on Sunday, overturning a first-leg deficit to progress 2-1 on aggregate. Trailing 1-0 after last weekend's defeat in Lilongwe, Bafana Bafana needed a strong response – and they delivered under pressure in front of their home supporters. Head coach Molefi Ntseki made several key changes to the starting line-up, handing starts to goalkeeper Reyaad Pieterse, Siyanda Msani, Yandisa Mfolozi, Ndumulelo Maphangule, and influential Mamelodi Sundowns midfielder Neo Maema – all of whom played vital roles in the comeback. The hosts wasted no time in asserting themselves. Just 11 minutes into the match, Victor Letsoalo levelled the tie on aggregate with a thunderous left-footed volley that flew past the Malawian shot-stopper. Despite dominating possession in the opening half, the home side went into the break with only a narrow 1-0 lead. Bafana Bafana emerged from the tunnel with renewed energy and nearly doubled their advantage midway through the second period. Letsoalo came close to a brace, rising highest to meet a pinpoint cross from Sebelebele, but his header was well-saved. With extra-time looming and tension building in the closing stages, captain Neo Maema produced a moment of brilliance in the 87th minute. Pouncing on a loose ball at the edge of the area, he calmly slotted past the goalkeeper to seal the aggregate win. The result marks a significant milestone for South African football, as Bafana Bafana return to the CHAN finals for the first time since 2014 when they were hosts – a 12-year absence from the prestigious tournament reserved exclusively for players plying their trade in their domestic leagues. The TotalEnergies CAF African Nations Championship will take place in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda.
SowetanLIVE
11-05-2025
- Sport
- SowetanLIVE
Molefi Ntseki's local-based Bafana qualify for Chan
Coach Molefi Ntseki's local-based Bafana Bafana have qualified for the African Nations Championship (Chan) for the first time since 2014 with their 2-0 victory against Malawi at Loftus Versfeld on Sunday. The South Africans lost the first leg in Lilongwe 1-0 so progress 2-1 on aggregate in the Confederation of African Football's (Caf) competition for local-based national teams. The Bafana developmental side, consisting mostly of fringe players not being featured much recently at their Betway Premiership clubs, took the lead in the second leg and levelled the tie via TS Galaxy striker Victor Letsoalo's 12th-minute strike.
TimesLIVE
11-05-2025
- Sport
- TimesLIVE
Molefi Ntseki's local-based Bafana qualify for Chan
Image: Muzi Ntombela/BackpagePix Coach Molefi Ntseki's local-based Bafana Bafana have qualified for the African Nations Championship (Chan) for the first time since 2014 with their 2-0 victory against Malawi at Loftus Versfeld on Sunday. The South Africans lost the first leg in Lilongwe 1-0 so progress 2-1 on aggregate in the Confederation of African Football's (Caf) competition for local-based national teams. The Bafana developmental side, consisting mostly of fringe players not being featured much recently at their Betway Premiership clubs, took the lead in the second leg and levelled the tie via TS Galaxy striker Victor Letsoalo's 12th-minute strike. Maema's goal. SA 2 Malawi 0 — Bafana Bafana (@BafanaBafana) May 11, 2025 The winner came from captain and Mamelodi Sundowns midfielder Neo Maema's close-range strike in the 87th. Former Bafana senior team and Kaizer Chiefs coach Ntseki was roped in to take charge of the Chan squad because South Africa assistant coach Helman Mkhalele, who normally oversees games in the competition, had to be part of the front-line combination's World Cup qualifiers in the previous round. Ntseki steered South Africa to beating Egypt 4-2 on aggregate in the first round of the second qualifier tournament. 🎙️ ℂ𝕆𝔸ℂℍ'𝕊 ℝ𝔼𝔸ℂ𝕋𝕀𝕆ℕ 🎙️ 🗣️ "𝚆𝚎 𝚑𝚊𝚍 𝚝𝚘 𝚍𝚒𝚐 𝚍𝚎𝚎𝚙 - 𝚠𝚎 𝚞𝚗𝚍𝚎𝚛𝚜𝚝𝚘𝚘𝚍 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚙𝚕𝚊𝚗" Bafana Bafana coach Molefi Ntseki after qualifying for the 2024 African Nations Championship finals! #SABCSportFootball #TotalEnergiesCHAN — SABC Sport (@SABC_Sport) May 11, 2025 South Africa initially withdrew from the Chan, which the country has generally regarded as not being worthy of time, effort and expenses to reach, but were coaxed back to the competition by a back door by the Confederation of African Football (Caf). Nineteen teams had qualified for the tournament. After withdrawals by Tunisia and Libya Caf introduced a second qualifier tournament between seven 're-engaged' sides, including South Africa, to determine the final two slots. The Chan is being hosted by Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania in August.
The South African
04-05-2025
- Sport
- The South African
Kaizer Chiefs winger to be offered to PSL clubs
Kaizer Chiefs has not been a successful stint for Tebogo Potsane, and the exit is on the horizon. The former Royal AM winger arrived in July 2023 on a three-year contract. The early times under coach Molefi Ntseki were promising before loss of form and injuries hit hard. Following his later game for Kaizer Chiefs in December 2024, the Bloemfontein-born star is set to depart from Amakhosi. 'Its believed that it won't be a direct release. They will put him on the transfer list and see if there are interested teams, of which it means they have to sell him,' a source told KickOff . 'They don't want to let him go for free and that's why he is believed to be put on transfer list. With the club looking to bring in new players, if there is a buyer, the 31-year-old could be one of the departing stars. 'The difference with Tebogo from other players who are set to be released is that he still has one year on his contract and the team wants to cash in on him rather than release him for free. 'They are looking at cutting down the squad while at the same time bringing in some new players at the start of next season,' the source added. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
IOL News
03-05-2025
- Sport
- IOL News
Bafana Bafana target victory against Malawi in CHAN 2025 qualifier
Molefi Ntseki Bafana Bafana CHAN coach Molefi Ntseki has emphasised the importance of scoring away from home. Photo: BackpagePix To qualify for the 2025 African Nations Championship (CHAN), Bafana Bafana face the task of securing an aggregate win over Malawi, starting with Saturday's first leg at the Republic Stadium in Lilongwe (3pm kick-off). Coach Molefi Ntseki said he was eager to make a strong statement in the first leg, and emphasised the importance of scoring away from home. "The good thing is that they (the selected players) are all here and we are ready to go," Ntseki affirmed, expressing confidence in the availability and readiness of his players following initial struggles to secure a complete squad. "We just have to play a game in Malawi with a very clear understanding that a goal in Malawi will be very important for us."
