South Africa triumphed over Egypt 3-1, advancing to the final CHAN qualification round against Malawi. Malawi defeated Comoros 4-0 on aggregate, while Gambia progressed after winning a penalty shootout against Gabon. The CHAN tournament is postponed to August and exclusively features domestic league players.
On Sunday, South Africa achieved a remarkable 3-1 victory over Egypt in Ismailia, earning them a place in the final qualifying round for the African Nations Championship (CHAN). Following a 1-1 draw in the first leg in Bloemfontein, South Africa secured a 4-2 aggregate win and will compete against Malawi in a two-legged tie scheduled for May.
Originally set for February, the 19-nation CHAN tournament, which will take place in Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda, has been postponed to August due to preparation delays. Despite being the favorites after the initial draw, Egypt struggled to keep pace with South Africa’s energetic play, ending the first half 2-1 down.
Neo Maema, South African captain and midfielder, opened the scoring in the 15th minute and narrowly missed a hat-trick after hitting the woodwork twice. Yandisa Mfolozi extended the lead in the 27th minute following a defensive mishap by Egypt, although the Pharaohs responded just five minutes later through Abou el Enein.
However, Siphelele Luthuli’s penalty six minutes after halftime reinstated South Africa’s two-goal advantage, effectively ending Egypt’s hopes of advancing under the away-goal rule; they needed at least three goals for progression, which they failed to achieve.
In other qualifying news, Malawi comfortably secured their place with a 4-0 aggregate win over the Comoros. They solidified their advancement with a 2-0 win in Lilongwe, courtesy of goals from Wongani Lungu and Binwell Katinji, following a solid first-leg performance.
The Comoros were disadvantaged in the first leg as they had to play away from home due to their lack of an internationally compliant stadium. Additionally, Gambia advanced after a tense penalty shootout against Gabon, converting all five penalties successfully to win 5-3, which sets up a confrontation with Algeria in the final round.
In summary, South Africa, Malawi, and Gambia have successfully qualified for the next round of the CHAN tournament, showcasing strong performances against their opponents. South Africa’s decisive victory over Egypt places them in a promising position against Malawi, while Malawi’s comprehensive win over the Comoros exemplifies their readiness. Gambia’s resilience in the penalty shootout indicates their determination as they prepare to face Algeria. The tournament, which exclusively features players from domestic leagues, continues to capture international interest.
Original Source: newscentral.africa
