Omo, Bafana Bafana no go carry last as dem don announce dem 25-man squad for di 2025 TotalEnergies CAF African Nations Championship (CHAN). Head coach Molefi Ntseki don mix plenty experienced players with some fresh blood wey dey shine from di local scene. But wetin be di surprise? Almost half of di squad no get club! (Chai, wetin these boys dey do?)
Di CHAN tournament go run from 2nd to 30th August for Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda, and e no dey easy for many countries, especially na South Africa own wey dey face di pressure of missing out on club players.
Ntseki don unveil di squad for Johannesburg on Thursday, and Mamelodi Sundowns na di team wey contribute di highest number of players — five to be precise. E use dis chance turn dem into opportunities, making sure dem get grit and determination — mostly from di boys wey help dem qualify for di tournament.
“We just want to take this opportunity to thank di SAFA Technical Committee for giving us di opportunity to lead this team in di CHAN tournament,” Ntseki talk. E dey optimistic as dem prepare to face hosts Uganda, Algeria, Niger, and Guinea in Group C. Talk about pressure! (Hope say dem don prepare well o!)
E no forget to mention say 12 of di 25 players wey dem select no get club. Names like Zakhele Lepasa, Keagan Dolly, and Thabiso Kutumela don dey back and ready to make amends on di big stage. Dis na chance for dem to prove demself and perhaps find new contracts after di tournament. (Wetin dem go do without club, na only god fit save dem.)
Ntseki talk say di team wey dem select na mostly di same guys wey don start di journey together. “So we dey look forward to di tournament and to do our best. We just want to thank di clubs and coaches wey allow players come join us.”
Di squad go gather for Johannesburg on di same Friday, 25th July, before dem fly go Uganda on Sunday, 3rd August. Dem go open dem campaign against Algeria on Friday, 8th August, followed by games against Niger, Guinea, and di local boys from Uganda, who fit gather plenty crowd to cheer dem. (E go sweet if dem no fall hand.)
SAFA Technical Committee Chairman, Jack Maluleke, confirm say Ntseki na di right person to lead dis team after im guide dem through some serious qualification wahala wey include wins against Egypt and Malawi. “E carry us come this point, na im suppose finish di job for di CHAN tournament,” Maluleke discuss.
With mixed vibes of hungry players and those wey don get international experience, we go dey follow South Africa closely — no be just for di results, but to see if dem go fit revive di local football matter wey done dey hold on for long.
No wahala una go hear more as di tournament dey near – Bafana Bafana, make una no turn to Bafana hell as una dey waka go CHAN!
