CHAN: South Africa edge Guinea 2-1 to revive Group C campaign in Kampala

South Africa find their spark at Mandela National Stadium

With their backs to the wall and time already tight in the group stage, South Africa put together the performance they needed, beating Guinea 2-1 in Kampala to pull themselves back into contention at the TotalEnergies African Nations Championship. It was brisk, brave, and at times nervy, but it was enough to lift Bafana Bafana off the foot of Group C.

The plan was obvious from the first whistle: press high, play forward early, and ask questions of Guinea’s center-backs. The reward came inside 10 minutes. Neo Maema timed his run and finish perfectly, slotting a clean left-footer into the bottom corner after slick interplay with Thabiso Kutumela. It was a sharp, training-ground move executed at pace—simple, decisive, and exactly what coach Molefi Ntseki wanted to see.

Falling behind jolted Guinea into life. They began to punch through midfield, moving the ball quicker between the lines. The equalizer, on 37 minutes, was a product of that shift. Mohamed Bangoura split South Africa’s back line with a threaded pass, and Moussa Camara drove his shot low across Samukelo Xulu into the far corner. That goal flipped the mood. Guinea finished the half on the front foot, and South Africa had to ride it out.

Credit to the Bafana back line. Kwandakwensizwa Mngonyama and Ramahlwe Mphahlele held firm under pressure, stayed tight when Guinea tried to overload the flanks, and protected Xulu when the box got crowded. Those small, gritty moments kept the game level at the break and set the stage for what followed.

The decisive blow arrived nine minutes into the second half. Kutumela, who had been the live wire all night, found room, took aim, and buried the winner on 54 minutes. It capped a complete performance from the striker—constant movement, clever touches between the lines, and the calm to finish when it mattered. No surprise he was named Man of the Match.

From there, South Africa managed the chaos. They didn’t drop too deep or invite long spells of pressure. Instead, they kept the ball when they could, drew fouls, and slowed things down in the right moments. Guinea still looked dangerous in transition, but the final pass deserted them. When they did find pockets, Xulu’s positioning and handling were solid.

Ntseki liked the result but kept his tone measured afterward. He praised the work rate and the quick reactions after Guinea’s equalizer, then pointed straight to the schedule. Both teams had played three days earlier, and the legs showed. “We are very pleased with the result but there is still a lot of work that we still need to do going into the next match,” he said, noting the minimal recovery time and the need to rotate smartly where possible.

There was a bit more bite across the pitch too. South Africa were sharper in the duels and more disciplined when Guinea tried to pull them out of shape. The wide players tracked back, the midfield screened better after halftime, and the central defenders timed their clearances. It wasn’t flawless, but it was a big step forward from their 1-1 opener against Algeria.

Guinea will regret their missed window just before the interval. With momentum and space to work in, they had South Africa scrambling but couldn’t land a second punch. Bangoura’s vision and Camara’s finish for the equalizer showed the quality is there; what was missing was the repeat. After the break, South Africa cut off the supply into those inside channels, and Guinea ran out of ideas in the final third.

This tournament rewards teams that can grind as much as they can glitter. The African Nations Championship is unique: only players active in their domestic leagues are eligible. That creates quick-learning squads with fresh combinations and unfamiliar partnerships—great for discovery, hard on cohesion. In that context, South Africa’s blend of industry and clarity in Kampala felt significant. They didn’t just snatch a win; they looked like a team figuring out who they are.

Mandela National Stadium provided the scene for a reset. After starting bottom of Group C, South Africa now have a platform. The group remains tight—Guinea came into this one reeling from a 3-0 loss to co-hosts Uganda, and Algeria had taken a point off Bafana Bafana in the opener—but this result flips the pressure. With one group game to go, South Africa control more of their fate.

Ntseki knows the margins are fine. The next match will likely hinge on energy management as much as tactics. Three games in quick succession can expose soft spots: tired legs on the press, late-track runners at the back post, the kind of details that swing tournaments. That’s why the message after the whistle sounded as practical as it did optimistic—rest now, tighten the details, and keep the tempo right.

For Guinea, the path isn’t closed. They showed enough quality to trouble any defense in the group. What must change is the final action under pressure: the last pass, the finish across the goalkeeper, the poise when half-chances appear. Clean up those details and they’re still in the fight.

Key moments and what comes next

• 10' — Neo Maema opens the scoring with a left-footed finish after a quick exchange with Thabiso Kutumela.
• 37' — Moussa Camara equalizes for Guinea, finishing low into the far corner from Mohamed Bangoura’s incisive pass.
• 54' — Kutumela restores South Africa’s lead with a composed strike and later earns Man of the Match.

Beyond the scoreline, the game turned on tempo and discipline. South Africa’s early press set the tone; their second-half control sealed the points. Guinea’s brightest spell came before halftime, but the lack of a second goal proved costly.

As the group stage tightens, the equation is simple. Points are everything, and goal difference can be a silent tiebreaker. The top teams from each group move on to the knockouts, and one more strong performance could carry South Africa into the quarterfinals. For a squad built from domestic talent, that’s exactly the kind of springboard this competition is designed to provide.

And that’s the wider story here. The TotalEnergies African Nations Championship—better known as CHAN—is a showcase for players shaping their games at home, not abroad. Nights like this, with tight margins and high stakes, are where leaders emerge. Kutumela stepped up in Kampala. If South Africa can bottle that edge for the final group match, their campaign might be turning at just the right time.