🇿🇦 Bafana Bafana Keep CHAN Hopes Alive with Gritty Win Over Guinea

South Africa reignited their CHAN PAMOJA 2024 campaign in Kampala with a determined 2-1 triumph, edging past Guinea to stay in the hunt for Group C qualification.

Zig Diaries Sports
Date: Monday, 11 August 2025
Time: 17:20 WAT
Location: 📍 Kampala, Uganda

Bafana Bafana climb off the foot of Group C after Neo Maema and Thabiso Kutumela fire them to their first CHAN win.

South Africa breathed fresh life into their TotalEnergies African Nations Championship (CHAN) PAMOJA 2024 journey with a spirited 2-1 win over Guinea at the Mandela National Stadium on Monday.

Goals from Neo Maema and Thabiso Kutumela delivered the much-needed victory for Molefi Ntseki’s men, who had entered the clash bottom of Group C after a 1-1 draw with Algeria. Guinea’s Moussa Camara briefly levelled in a pulsating first half, but the West Africans were ultimately undone by South Africa’s sharper edge.

Maema Strikes Early
Bafana Bafana showed urgency from the first whistle. In the 10th minute, Kutumela combined neatly with Maema, who finished low and left-footed into the corner — his first goal of the finals — setting the tone for a proactive, high-press performance.

Camara Hits Back
Guinea rallied, with Mohamed Bangoura I threading a defence-splitting pass to Camara in the 37th minute. The striker coolly slotted past Samukelo Xulu, swinging momentum the Syli Nationale’s way until halftime.

Kutumela Restores the Lead
In the 54th minute, Wayde Jooste’s pinpoint cross found Kutumela unmarked. He made no mistake, steering in his second CHAN career goal to restore South Africa’s advantage.

Guinea’s Late Push
Guinea surged forward in the closing stages, with Diabate and Cheick Camara both going close. However, Ntseki’s disciplined substitutions — including Tlolane and Majadibodu — kept the backline solid until the final whistle.

Group C Implications
The result lifts South Africa to four points, just behind Algeria, while Guinea remain on one point, facing elimination unless they win their final game and other results swing their way. Uganda’s later match against Niger will further shape the group standings.

Fact-check & Background Context:

·        CHAN features only home-based players from African nations.

·        South Africa’s last CHAN appearance was in 2014.

·        Guinea reached the semi-finals in CHAN 2020.

🏷️ Tags: CHAN 2024, Bafana Bafana, South Africa vs Guinea, Group C, Kampala
#CHAN2024 #BafanaBafana #TotalEnergiesCHAN #SouthAfrica #Guinea #Pamoja2024

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