- Team Chemistry Boosts Confidence: South African defenders, including Wayde Jooste, highlight that shared experience in league play has fostered a strong team chemistry, which is key to their confidence ahead of the tournament.
- Challenging Group C Competition: South Africa is in a tough group with Algeria, Uganda, Niger, and Guinea, making each match important in their quest to advance.
- Strategic Focus on First Match: With Algeria already winning their first game, South Africa’s performance in their opening match will be vital for their tournament hopes.
As the South African side prepares to face Algeria in their opening TotalEnergies CAF African Nations Championship (CHAN) match, defender Wayde Jooste says the team’s chemistry is a major confidence boost.
“Honestly, I don’t think it’s been that tough because the majority of us have played against each other in our respective leagues,” Jooste said. “Some of us have even been teammates at different clubs. So from a chemistry perspective, it’s been easy to come together and form a little family.”
This familiar dynamic, he believes, gives Bafana an edge. “It’s a very good thing that we are an unknown quantity because they won’t know what to expect from us,” he noted. “It will count in our favour and give us an edge in the group stages.”
Jooste also stressed the importance of a strong start. “In any tournament format, you want to start well. You don’t want to be playing catch‑up… If we pick up three points in the first game, it takes a load off our shoulders and gives us the best chance of progressing.”
South Africa faces a challenging Group C, alongside Algeria, Uganda, Niger, and Guinea, and with Algeria already securing a win, Bafana’s response in their first match will be crucial to their progression in the tournament.
