South Africa's under-17 national team suffered a 3-2 defeat to Nigeria in their final group game at the U-17 Africa Cup of Nations.
After netting a brace against Zambia in midweek, Vicky Mkhawana received another start and was flanked by Gomolemo Kekana, Gabriel Amato and Siyabonga Mabena.
Mkhawana continued his rich vein of form when he reacted quickly to a rebound from the post following a header and volleyed in inside five minutes.
Duncan Crowie's young brigade were under pressure soon thereafter as Charles Agada raced to a through pass and executed, but it was ruled out after he had gone too early.
Agada wasn't to be undone by the man in the middle and levelled matters ten minutes to the break when he showed up unmarked in the box and applied a stern header into the far-corner of the net.
South Africa regained the lead on the stroke of halftime after Mabena darted in-wards and escaped two challengers to fire in off the underside of the crossbar.
The young Nigerian national team clawed level a minute from the interval when Agada showed huge strength on the right and crossed for Light Eke to find a gaping net.
Mabena got a chance to restore South Africa's lead with a side-footed attempt off a diagonal pass, but he misjudged the flight of the ball as Dhakier Lee entered for Xavier Jodamus.
Nigeria took the lead for the first time around the closing exchanges when Abubakar Idris Abdullahi produced an outstretched leg to get on the end of a cross and bundled in.
The West African nation kept the confidence high and could've had a fourth through a telling shot in the box by Eke from a twist and turn, but he hit the woodwork.
Nigeria enjoyed a rather quiet closing few minutes of the match and in that secured the win that ensured qualification to the semi-finals while South Africa will have to wait on the outcome of the Cameroon and Burkina Faso match.
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