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CAF
4 days ago
- Sport
- CAF
South Africa's CHAN squad blends free agents and rising stars in title bid
South Africa head coach Molefi Ntseki has named a 25-man squad for the 2025 TotalEnergies CAF African Nations Championship (CHAN), featuring a strong mix of experienced campaigners and emerging talents — but strikingly, nearly half the squad are currently without clubs. With the CHAN tournament restricted to players plying their trade in their domestic leagues, the timing of the competition — set to run from 2–30 August in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda — has created challenges for many nations, including Bafana Bafana. The squad was unveiled in Johannesburg on Thursday, with Mamelodi Sundowns contributing the most players (five). Ntseki has turned this into an opportunity, banking on continuity, grit, and hunger among players who helped South Africa qualify. The coach praised the team's journey so far and expressed optimism ahead of their Group C challenge, which includes hosts Uganda, Algeria, Niger, and Guinea. 'We just want to take this opportunity to thank the SAFA Technical Committee for giving us the opportunity to lead this team in the CHAN tournament,' said Ntseki. 'We have assembled a team that will represent South Africa in the CHAN tournament.' Notably, 12 of the 25 selected players are unattached, including familiar names like Zakhele Lepasa, Keagan Dolly, and Thabiso Kutumela. Ntseki is betting on their international experience and motivation to shine on the continental stage — and perhaps secure fresh contracts in the process. 'The team that we have selected is mostly composed of the players we started this journey with,' Ntseki added. 'So we are looking forward to the tournament and to do our best. We just want to say thanks to the clubs and to the coaches who managed to release players for our CHAN team to have a good squad going into the tournament.' The squad will assemble in Johannesburg on Friday, 25 July, before travelling to Uganda on Sunday, 3 August. South Africa opens its campaign against Algeria on Friday, 8 August, with other group games against Niger, Guinea, and Uganda — a co-host that could draw massive home crowds. SAFA Technical Committee Chairman Jack Maluleke emphasized that Ntseki was the right man to lead the side into the tournament, having guided them through a tricky qualification campaign that included victories over Egypt and Malawi. 'He got us to this stage of the journey and it is only right that he completes the job in the CHAN tournament itself,' said Maluleke. With a healthy mix of players hungry to prove themselves and those with prior international exposure, South Africa's campaign will be closely watched — not just for results, but for signs of revival in the country's local football ranks. South Africa Final Squad – TotalEnergies CHAN 2025
CAF
30-06-2025
- Sport
- CAF
TotalEnergies CAF CHAN 2024: Know the Coach: Molefi Ntseki (South Africa)
South Africa will look to make a strong statement at the TotalEnergies CAF African Nations Championship (CHAN) 2024, and the responsibility of guiding Bafana Bafana's locally based squad will rest on the experienced shoulders of Molefi Ntseki. While Hugo Broos remains the head coach of South Africa's senior national team, it is Ntseki who has been appointed to take charge of the TotalEnergies CAF CHAN squad, which consists exclusively of players competing in the domestic leagues. Ntseki's appointment was confirmed earlier this year, with national team assistant coach Helman Mkhalele stepping back from coaching the qualifiers squad. Ntseki, who was a school teacher before transitioning to coaching will be assisted by TotalEnergies CAF U-20 winning coach, Raymond Mdaka. The former technical director of Marumo Gallants received a recommendation from the SAFA technical committee and has since focused on scouting and preparing players from the Premiership and lower divisions, aiming to build a competitive team that can challenge for honours when the tournament kicks off in August. His extensive knowledge of South African football and experience developing young players have made him the ideal choice to lead a squad drawn entirely from local talent, many of whom will be getting their first taste of continental football. Name: Molefi Ntseki Nationality: South African Age: 54 years Current Team: South Africa (CHAN Team) Tenure: 2025 Career Highlights Ntseki rose to prominence as head coach of South Africa's U17 national team, guiding them to a runners-up finish at the 2015 African U17 Championship and qualification for the FIFA U17 World Cup. He first served as assistant coach of Bafana Bafana before being appointed head coach of the senior national team in 2019, overseeing the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations 2021 qualification campaign. Ntseki also had a brief stint as Kaizer Chiefs head coach in 2023 and has held roles in youth development at clubs including Free State Stars and Bloemfontein Celtic. Coaching StyleNtseki favours a disciplined, pragmatic approach, focusing on defensive organisation and structured build-up play. He often uses systems like 4-4-2 or 4-2-3-1 to keep the team compact while allowing quick transitions. His style has proven effective in stabilising teams and getting the best out of emerging talents. TotalEnergies CAF CHAN Experience CHAN 2024 will mark Ntseki's first time in charge at a TotalEnergies CAF CHAN tournament, although his experience coaching South Africa's junior and senior national teams gives him valuable insight into continental competition. His task will be to prepare a competitive side from a player pool limited to those active in South Africa's domestic leagues. Impact on the TeamNtseki's appointment has already sparked renewed focus on local talent, with several in-form Premiership players earning their first national team call-ups. His emphasis on discipline, structure, and giving opportunities based on merit has been welcomed by players eager to prove themselves on the continental stage. Ntseki has made it clear his goal is not simply to participate but to mount a serious challenge, restore pride in Bafana Bafana's local contingent, and unearth future stars for the senior national team. Fun Fact Ntseki remains passionate about youth development and is often spotted at youth and Reserve League matches, where he scouts potential new faces for national teams. He frequently cites his teaching background as a key asset in communicating effectively with young players. Conclusion With Molefi Ntseki at the helm, South Africa's TotalEnergies CAF CHAN squad enters the tournament with hope and determination. His experience and belief in local talent provide optimism that Bafana Bafana can compete fiercely and make an impact at this year's finals.
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.
TimesLIVE
09-05-2025
- Sport
- TimesLIVE
Bafana Chan coach Ntseki welcomes Maema and several reinforcements for Malawi clash
Bafana Bafana have been boosted by the availability of Mamelodi Sundowns midfielder Neo Maema ahead of the African Nations Championship (Chan) second leg qualifier against Malawi at Loftus Versfeld stadium on Sunday. Coach Molefi Ntseki also welcomed Ndumulelo Maphangule and Simon Ramabu (Polokwane City), Victor Letsoalo and Kamogelo Sebelebele (TS Galaxy) and Siyanda Msani (University of Pretoria). Ntseki missed the services of the players during last week's first leg in a game that Malawi won 1-0 at home in Lilongwe. In preparation for the clash, SA played a training match against Motsepe Foundation Championship side Casric Stars at Loftus on Thursday and Ntseki is happy with preparations. 'I think the first one was us playing the game we played in Malawi and the plan was to get a goal and not to concede. Unfortunately, we struggled with the game management,' he said.
