The South African Football Association (SAFA) has officially appointed Molefi Ntseki as the head coach of the Bafana Bafana squad for the upcoming African Nations Championship (CHAN) qualifiers against Egypt.
The first leg of the highly anticipated clash will take place on Sunday, 2 March 2025, at the Free State Stadium in Bloemfontein, with a kick-off time set for 17:00.
Initially scheduled for Friday, 28 February, the match was postponed at Egypt’s request after the North African side informed SAFA that they would only receive their visas and travel documents on match day. The return fixture will be held on Sunday, 9 March.
The announcement of Ntseki’s appointment comes after SAFA revealed the squad for the CHAN qualifiers on Saturday. Some key players who have been included in the squad are Kaizer Chiefs’ DStv Diski Challenge captain Aden McCarthy, Orlando Pirates’ Monnapule Saleng, and a trio of Mamelodi Sundowns stars: Jody February, Neo Maema, and Terrence Mashego.
On Wednesday, 26 February, SAFA confirmed that Ntseki would take the reins as head coach, with Raymond Mdaka stepping into the role of assistant coach.
The team gathered in Johannesburg on Wednesday before traveling to the Free State. SAFA Technical Committee Chairman Jack Maluleke and South Africa’s U-20 coach, Raymond Mdaka, accompanied the squad, with Mdaka set to work closely with Ntseki as his assistant.
“The team assembled in Johannesburg on Wednesday, 26 February 2025, and then traveled to the Free State, where they were joined by SAFA Technical Committee Chairman Jack Maluleke and SA U20 coach Raymond Mdaka. Mdaka will assist former Bafana Bafana mentor Molefi Ntseki, who joined the camp this evening and will now assume the reins as coach of the team,” SAFA stated in their official release on Wednesday.
With Ntseki’s vast experience at the helm of the national team, including his previous tenure as head coach of Bafana Bafana, expectations are high as South Africa prepares to face a formidable Egypt side in this crucial qualifier. The outcome of these matches will be key in determining South Africa’s chances of advancing to the CHAN tournament.