Bafana Bafana's Quest for a First CHAN Victory
Molefi Ntseki's Bafana Bafana will play Guinea for the first time in CHAN history on Monday in Kampala as both teams compete for vital Group C points.
Ankush Pandey
The first-ever match between South Africa's Bafana Bafana and Guinea's National Elephants will take place on Monday in the TotalEnergies African Nations Championship (CHAN).
In addition to ushering in a new era for the tournament, this game at the Nelson Mandela Stadium in the vibrant city of Kampala will be significant for both teams as they try to earn vital Group C points.
In the CHAN campaign, South Africa will be the 15th opponent Guinea has faced, while this match will be the ninth time South Africa has faced a side. Having already played Zambia twice, this will be Guinea's third match against a COSAFA country.
Molefi Ntseki, the coach of Bafana Bafana, recognises the threat posed by Guinea, a team renowned for their attacking flair and equipped with players who have the ability to change the outcome of a game at any time.
Ntseki declared, "We will enter this game knowing full well that they are a very offensive team." "If given the chance, their talented individual players might harm you at any time.
While concentrating on how we want to play both offensively and defensively, we must show respect for our opponents. Ntseki emphasised the significance of discipline and planning while highlighting particular worries about Guinea's skill in aerial duels and set-piece situations.
"Set-plays are a crucial area for us to manage because we know they have good ball headers," he added. "With players like Aboubacar Bangoura, Alhassane Bangoura, and Bangaly Cisse in their ranks, transition play is also a concern."
Midfielder Keagan Dolly underlined the importance of each game in this difficult group when discussing the tactical preparations. Algeria was our first opponent in the competition, and we played well. Our confidence has increased as a result," he remarked.
"Now that we know every game is crucial to our advancement in the tournament, we must put our own needs first and approach each one as a final."
— Bafana Bafana (@BafanaBafana) August 10, 2025
Dolly maintains that following their framework and successfully carrying out their game plan are the keys to success, even with careful preparation off the pitch. "The game will not be simple. We've done our research, and it's critical that we perform well and accomplish our goals," he continued.
The two teams have different histories going into this matchup. After defeating Niger 1-0 to start the campaign, Guinea lost badly to co-hosts Uganda 3-0, their largest loss margin at CHAN, ending an incredible eight-match unbeaten streak in open play.
South Africa, which is ranked 56th in the world, drew 1-1 with 36th-ranked Algeria in their opening match to salvage a point. The fact that Bafana Bafana lost their first game was the first since 2014.
In all seven of their CHAN group-stage games thus far, they have scored, but they have also frequently given up. Aboubacar Bangoura set up four goal-scoring opportunities as Guinea attempted 384 passes against Uganda, their highest total at the current championships.
To demonstrate their firepower, South Africa's Thabiso Kutumela scored his second CHAN goal with their first attempt on goal against Algeria.
For Guinea, losing would be only the second time in their history that they had suffered consecutive group-stage losses. Meanwhile, South Africa will try to win the competition for the first time and get one step closer to making it to the quarterfinals for the second time. Bafana Bafana, led by interim coach Molefi Ntseki, will be focused on making this momentous match unforgettable.
