South Africa's journey at the U-17 Africa Cup of Nations came to an end after going down 5-0 to Senegal in the quarter-finals on Wednesday evening.
Amajimbos made two changes from their defeat against Nigeria, as Keitumetse Lesia and Xolani Tshaka were brought in at right back and midfield respectively.
The game was closely contested in the early stages but Senegal started getting an upper hand after 20 minutes as Amara Diouf came close with a header that missed wide.
South Africa, largely playing deep in their own half, had their first chance ten minutes before the break after Michael Dokunmu directed a header just wide from a cross by Siyabonga Mabena.
However, things started to fall apart for Amajimbos just after that as Senegal went ahead after Waylon Renecke scuffed a clearance from a cross into his own net.
The Young Lions of Teranga got the second goal six minutes before the break after Benjamin Wallis also scored an own goal after he could not clear a rebound from a save by goalkeeper Gennaro Johnson away from goal.
South Africa started dropping their heads and Senegal pounced on the stroke of half-time as Mamadou Sadio gave them a commanding 3-0 lead on the stroke of half-time with a low strike from the edge of the box.
Amajimbos started the second stanza with renewed energy going forward but they opened gaps at the back as they committed numbers forward and ten minutes later Diouf rubbed salt into the wounds of the South Africans as he made it 4-0 for Senegal with a tap-in that was initially disallowed for offside but the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) reversed that decision.
The Young Lions of Teranga threatened to add further goals that would embarrass Amajimbos and on 64 minutes head coach Duncan Crowie made a tactical change to tighten things up at the back as Vincent Sithole replaced Tshaka.However, Crowie's men could not stop Diouf from making it 5-0 for Senegal 18 minutes before time who got his brace with a header in the box from a cross by Ibrahima Diallo.
The Young Lions of Teranga continued to pin South Africa back in their own half, as they looked for more goals and they got very close to making it 6-0 in stoppages as they booked a spot in the semi-finals and qualified for the World Cup in Peru later this year.
Senegal, yet to concede in the tournament, with a 100 percent record, will face the winner between Nigeria and Burkina Faso in the semi-finals.
You must be SIGNED IN to read and post comments.