Ntseki Celebrates Bafana’s Qualification for CHAN

Molefi Ntseki, the interim coach of Bafana Bafana, shared his excitement after the team successfully qualified for the upcoming continental tournament, which will be co-hosted by three East African nations – Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda – for the first time in August 2025.

South Africa has officially secured its spot in the 2025 African Nations Championship (CHAN) following a 2-0 win against Malawi at Loftus Stadium last Sunday.

The Bafana Bafana faced significant pressure as Malawi came to Tshwane with newfound confidence, having won the first leg 1-0 at home in Lilongwe the week before. However, South Africa quickly regained their momentum, with Victor Letsoalo netting the first goal in the 12th minute.

Captain Neo Maema cemented the team’s qualification with a second goal in the 87th minute, resulting in a 2-1 aggregate win over the two matches.

“Though my voice might not be at its best, it’s a result of the celebrations we had after qualifying for the CHAN tournament, marking our return after 12 years,” Ntseki expressed. “This accomplishment belongs to the country, to SAFA, and to all the players who contributed in both legs against Egypt, as well as the first leg against Malawi, leading to this crucial second leg victory that enabled our nation to qualify for CHAN.”

“Our primary aim was to gather all available players for camp, even though some members of the original squad were unable to participate in the first leg against Malawi. Those who joined us put forth tremendous effort, enabling us to manage the game effectively until the 87th minute. Unfortunately, we slightly lost our concentration, resulting in a goal conceded from a set-piece.”

“Nonetheless, I feel we executed our technical strategy with great dedication today, and every player on the field performed exceptionally. We extend our heartfelt thanks to the players, the entire technical team, and SAFA as a whole.”