Just days after being released from Marumo Gallants’ technical staff, Molefi Ntseki was appointed Bafana Bafana’s coach for the African Nations Championship (CHAN) qualifier against Egypt.
Ntseki and Gallants head coach Dan ‘Dance’ Malesela were shown the exit door following their recent 3-1 loss against Mamelodi Sundowns.
Gallants are currently in a relegation battle after winning only four out of 17 league matches. The club’s hierarchy is planning personnel changes to revive the club’s flagging fortunes.
Ntseki will replace Bafana Bafana’s assistant coach Helman Mkhalele, who is busy assisting Hugo Broos with logistics for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers against neighbours Lesotho (home) and Benin (away).
Bafana Bafana’s 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Lesotho will be played at the Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane, on Friday, March 21.
The next day, the team will fly to Ivory Coast by charter to face Benin in the second qualifier a few days later.
Benin do not have a CAF-approved venue, and the match will be played in Ivory Coast. Bafana Bafana have already sent an advance party to inspect venues and training facilities there.
The South African Football Association said head coach Broos asked for Mkhalele to be excused for the upcoming African Nations Championship qualifiers.
“After we got information that the South African senior national team coach requested that Helman Mkhalele must be recused from this team, because we have the priority of Bafana Bafana playing 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Lesotho and Benin in a few weeks, we agreed,” said technical committee chairman Jack Maluleke.
A big plus for Bafana’s technical staff is that they will see Benin in action against Zimbabwe at the Moses Mabhida Stadium, on March 17. Like Benin, Zimbabwe does not have a CAF-approved venue, and have been playing home matches in South Africa.
Meanwhile, Ntseki and his squad will have more time to prepare for Egypt because the first-leg first-round clash has been moved from Friday to Sunday at the Free State Stadium in Bloemfontein.
South Africa vs Egypt CHAN qualifier moved from Friday, 28 February to Sunday, 2 March 2025.#BafanaPride@10bet_ZA @SABC_Sport @CastleLagerSA @pefmo_za @SAFA_net @flysaa @SouthernSunGrp @NUTRITECHFIThttps://t.co/oJ1bCEvnOU
— Bafana Bafana (@BafanaBafana) February 26, 2025
The North Africans requested the postponement because they will only receive travel documents on Friday.
SA Under-20 coach Raymond Mdaka will assist Ntseki, who will put the squad through their paces on Friday at the match venue.