South Africa breathed fresh life into their 2024 African Nations Championship (CHAN) campaign with a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Guinea in Kampala on Monday.
Goals from Neo Maema and Thabiso Kutumela secured Bafana Bafana’s first win of the tournament, lifting them off the foot of Group C ahead of the later clash between Uganda and Niger.
Moussa Camara had briefly drawn Guinea level in a pulsating first half at Mandela National Stadium.
Maema strikes early
The pre-match talk was dominated by the must-win stakes for both sides, with South Africa starting the day bottom of the group after a 1-1 draw with Algeria, and Guinea reeling from a 3-0 loss to co-hosts Uganda.
Bafana Bafana wasted no time making their intent clear. In the 10th minute, Kutumela linked cleverly with Maema, who slotted a composed left-footed finish into the bottom corner for his first goal of the finals.
It was a deserved reward for Molefi Ntseki’s side, who pressed high and looked to unsettle Guinea’s backline from the outset.
Camara’s response
Guinea, however, showed flashes of the attacking verve that carried them through qualification.
Mohamed Bangoura I’s incisive pass split the South African defence in the 37th minute, finding Moussa Camara, who drove a low shot into the far corner past goalkeeper Samukelo Xulu.
The equaliser swung momentum towards the Syli Nationale, who finished the first half on the front foot.
South Africa, though, weathered the storm, with Kwandakwensizwa Mngonyama and Ramahlwe Mphahlele marshalling the defence under pressure.
Kutumela restores advantage
The second half began with renewed urgency from both teams, but it was South Africa who struck the decisive blow.
In the 54th minute, Wayde Jooste’s precise delivery from the right found Kutumela unmarked in the box, and the striker coolly placed his shot into the bottom right corner.
It was Kutumela’s second goal in CHAN history and underlined his growing influence in Ntseki’s attack.
Late drama and near misses
Guinea threw everything forward in search of an equaliser, introducing fresh legs in Mohamed Diabate, Cheick Camara, and Yakhouba Barry.
Aboubacar Bangoura’s dangerous crosses tested the South African rearguard, while Mohamed Diabate’s close-range header in the 88th minute and Mohamed Bangoura II’s fierce drive moments later forced sharp interventions from Xulu.
In stoppage time, Cheick Camara’s towering header drifted agonisingly over, and the final whistle sparked jubilant celebrations from the Bafana Bafana bench.
Tactical edge and resilience
Ntseki’s side showed greater discipline than in their opening match, maintaining defensive shape under sustained pressure and using quick transitions to exploit space.
The introduction of substitutes like Tebogo Tlolane and Harold Majadibodu in the final quarter proved crucial in holding off Guinea’s late surge.
For Guinea, the defeat was a second successive setback and leaves them rooted to the bottom of the group, their hopes of qualification now hanging by a thread ahead of their final match.
What it means for Group C
The result moves South Africa into contention with four points, temporarily behind Algeria.
Guinea remain on one point and will need both victory in their last match and favourable results elsewhere to stay alive in the tournament.
With Uganda and Niger meeting later on Monday, the group’s qualification picture remains finely poised.
