CHAN 2024: Bafana Bafana aim to defy the odds | OneFootball

CHAN 2024: Bafana Bafana aim to defy the odds | OneFootball

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·7 August 2025

CHAN 2024: Bafana Bafana aim to defy the odds

Article image:CHAN 2024: Bafana Bafana aim to defy the odds

CHAN 2024: Bafana Bafana aim to defy the odds

Despite fielding a squad made up of mostly unknown players—some even without a club—South Africa is ready to go all in at CHAN 2024.


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The Bafana Bafana are heading into CHAN 2024 with a surprising lineup. Twelve unattached players and several unfamiliar faces have made the 25-man list.

But for Wayde Jooste, this lack of notoriety could be a real asset:

It's actually a very good thing that we're an unknown team because opponents won't know what to expect from us. That will play in our favor and give us an edge in the group stage.

South Africa will face Algeria in their group C opener at the Mandela Stadium in Namboole. Jooste wants to make a statement right from the start:

In any tournament format, you have to start well. We don't want to be chasing results or relying on others. If we take all three points in the first match, it takes the pressure off and gives us the best chance to keep going.

With Algeria having already played their first match, the South African team had the chance to study them carefully:

They deserve to be here. They're a very good team, very direct. But we've done our analysis, and most of the guys have seen them play before.

South Africa is in Group C alongside Algeria, Uganda, Niger, and Guinea—a tough group where surprises are certainly possible.

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