Bafana Bafana braced for Guinea face-off, looking for first CHAN tournament win

Guinea’s National Elephants and South Africa’s Bafana Bafana will face off for the first time in the history of the TotalEnergies African Nations Championship (CHAN) on Monday.

This match, at the Nelson Mandela Stadium in the bustling city of Kampala, will not only add a new chapter to the tournament’s history but also mark an important moment for both teams as they aim to secure crucial Group C points.

South Africa will become the 15th different opponent Guinea has faced in CHAN competition, while this fixture will represent the ninth team South Africa have met in the tournament. It will also be Guinea’s third outing against a COSAFA nation, having previously faced Zambia twice.

Bafana Bafana's coach, Molefi Ntseki, acknowledges the challenge presented by Guinea, who are known for their attacking flair and possess players who can turn the tide of the match at any moment.

“We will be going into this game fully aware that they are a very offensive team,” Ntseki stated.

“They’ve got some good individual players that can hurt you anytime, given a chance. We need to respect our opponents while focusing on how we want to play both offensively and defensively.”

Ntseki highlighted specific concerns regarding Guinea’s prowess in aerial duels and set-piece situations, underscoring the importance of discipline and strategy.

“We’re aware that they have good headers of the ball, and that makes set-plays a critical area for us to manage,” he continued. “Transition play is also a concern, especially with players like Aboubacar Bangoura, Alhassane Bangoura, and Bangaly Cisse in their ranks.”

As for the tactical preparations, midfielder Keagan Dolly emphasised the significance of every match in this challenging group.

“We had a good match against Algeria, which served as our opener in the tournament. It has boosted our confidence,” he said. “Now, we need to focus on ourselves and treat every game as a final, knowing that each one is important for our progression in the tournament.”

With meticulous preparation off the field, Dolly insists that the key to success lies in adhering to their structure and executing their game plan effectively.

“The game isn’t going to be easy. We’ve done our homework, and it’s vital for us to perform well and achieve what we set out to do,” he added.

Both teams come into this clash with contrasting fortunes. Guinea began their campaign with a 1-0 victory over Niger but suffered a setback with a heavy 3-0 defeat to co-hosts Uganda — their biggest margin of defeat at CHAN — which ended an impressive eight-match unbeaten run in open play.

South Africa, ranked 56th in the world, salvaged a point in their opener with a 1-1 draw against 36th-ranked Algeria. This was the first time since 2014 that Bafana Bafana failed to win their opening match.

They have scored in all seven of their CHAN group-stage matches to date, though they have often conceded as well.

Guinea attempted 384 passes in their match against Uganda — their highest total at the current finals — with Aboubacar Bangoura creating four goal-scoring chances. South Africa’s Thabiso Kutumela netted his second CHAN goal from their first shot on target against Algeria, underlining the firepower they possess.

For Guinea, defeat would mean back-to-back group-stage losses for only the second time in their history. South Africa, meanwhile, will aim for their first win of the tournament and a step closer to reaching the quarter-finals for the second time.

Under stand-in coach Molefi Ntseki, Bafana Bafana will be determined to make this historic encounter one to remember.