View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Soccer Laduma (@soccer_laduma)

South Africa Under-17 Amajimbos beat Egypt to qualify for 2015 African Youth Championships

The South Africa Under-17 side now complete a fairytale of national teams qualifying for major tournaments after overcoming Egypt at the Contractors Stadium in Cairo.

Banyana Banyana and Amajita have already qualified for the African Women Championships and African Junior Championships respectively and despite a late rally, the Under-17s were not going to be denied a berth in the championships.

The second leg ended in a 2-2 draw but having won 2-1 a fortnight ago, Molefi Ntseki’s side booked their place at Niger 2015.

Khanyisa Mayo’s first-half brace silenced the vocal Egyptians as Amajimbos completed qualification despite the hosts pulling two goals back in the second half.

Egypt got an early free-kick but in-form goalkeeper Mondli Mpoto snuffed out the danger before Amajimbos got theirs which they blasted over the bar from a good position.

Egypt again tried a long-range effort but that gave Mpoto no problems. Vuyo Manjtie then saw his cross going tantalising wide as action swung from one end to the other.

From a swift counter-attack, Mayo beat Egyptian goalkeeper Mohmud Gad hands down to give Amajimbos a deserved 1-0 lead and 3-1 on aggregate. The goal seemed to have galvanised the boys as they got stuck in and never got intimidated by the atmosphere.

It then became the Mayo show as from another counter-attack in the 37th minute, he drew the keeper off his line before lobbing the ball past the outstretched keeper to make it 2-0.

Ntseki’s boys showed guts and determination going onto the break, leading the stunned Egyptians 2-0 and 4-1 on aggregate.

The second half started the way the first did with the Egyptians trying to get back into the game but there was always the danger of being caught on a counter-attack.

The hosts duly pulled one back following incessant pressure to make it 2-1 early in the second half.

The Egyptians thought they had made it 2-2 but their effort was ruled offside. With time running out, the Egyptians then went for long-range efforts which never troubled Mpoto.

Egypt still managed to pull a second goal back to make it 2-2 but that was too little, too late.

Egypt XI: Mohmud Gad, Ali Ragab, Maray, Karem, Fatoh, Mostafa, Ali, Ahmed, Hamdy, Filex, Walid

South Africa XI: Mondli Mpoto, Keanu Cupido, Thendo Mukumela, Simon Nqoi, Notha Ngcobo, Athenkosi Dlala, Reeves Frosler, Nelson Maluleke, Sibongakonke Matha, Vuyo Mantjie, Khanyisa Mayo

Comments