The South African Football Association (SAFA) has narrowly avoided suspension from the Confederation of African Football (CAF) after clarifying the surprise appointment of Molefi Ntseki as coach for the country’s African Nations Championship (CHAN) qualifying campaign.
South Africa is set to face Egypt in the first round of CHAN qualifiers on Sunday, following a delay caused by visa issues faced by the North African side.
The fixture, initially scheduled for Friday, was postponed after Egypt requested more time as their visas were not expected to be processed until match day. CAF approved the request, rescheduling the match at the Free State Stadium in Bloemfontein.
Ntseki, recently dismissed as Marumo Gallants’ technical director, will lead the team alongside assistant Raymond Mdaka, who joined the camp on Wednesday.
The squad assembled in Johannesburg before travelling to Bloemfontein, accompanied by SAFA technical committee chairman Jack Maluleke and members of the under-20 coaching staff.
Maluleke addressed the coaching reshuffle, stating: “At the last NEC meeting, the technical committee recommended Ntseki to lead SAFA’s technical development.
After we learned that the South African senior national team coach had asked for Helman Mkhalele to resign from that team due to the priority qualification for the 2026 World Cup, we agreed to this change.”
Sources indicated that SAFA was initially reluctant to participate in the CHAN qualifiers, citing a congested domestic fixture list and challenges in securing player releases from clubs.
The hesitation reportedly drew a stern response from CAF President Patrice Motsepe, who warned that failure to compete could result in suspension—a scenario that would have been particularly embarrassing given Motsepe’s South African heritage.
Motsepe emphasized the importance of the CHAN tournament and urged SAFA and the Premier Soccer League (PSL) to find a solution.
Following discussions, prominent clubs including Mamelodi Sundowns, Orlando Pirates, and Kaizer Chiefs agreed to release a limited number of players for the qualifiers.
The agreement allowed South Africa to proceed with their campaign, averting a potential ban and preserving the country’s standing in African football.
As the team prepares for the crucial clash against Egypt, the episode serves as a reminder of the delicate balance between club and national team commitments in the continent’s football landscape.
