South Africa triumphed over Egypt 3-1, advancing to face Malawi, while Malawi comfortably beat the Comoros 4-0 on aggregate. Gambia progressed via a penalty shootout against Gabon. The rescheduled CHAN tournament will occur in August across Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda.
In a thrilling match, South Africa achieved a remarkable 3-1 victory over Egypt in Ismailia, thereby securing their position in the final qualifying round for the African Nations Championship (CHAN). With an overall 4-2 win following a 1-1 draw in the first leg held in Bloemfontein, South Africa is set to face Malawi in a two-legged tie scheduled for May.
The CHAN tournament, originally planned for February, has been postponed to August and will take place across Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda due to preparation delays. Despite entering the match as favorites, Egypt found it challenging to contend with South Africa’s high energy, and they were fortunate to enter halftime trailing by just 2-1.
Neo Maema, South Africa’s captain and standout midfielder, opened the scoring in the 15th minute, nearly achieving a first-half hat-trick as he hit the woodwork twice. Yandisa Mfolozi extended the lead to 2-0 in the 27th minute after a missed clearance by Egypt. The Pharaohs briefly responded through Abou el Enein five minutes later, but Siphelele Luthuli’s second-half penalty restored South Africa’s advantage, making the score 3-1 and leaving Egypt needing at least three goals to progress.
In another qualifying match, Malawi secured their advancement with a commanding 4-0 aggregate victory over the Comoros. Following a first-leg win, they achieved a 2-0 victory in Lilongwe, with second-half goals from Wongani Lungu and Binwell Katinji. Due to a lack of suitable stadiums, the Comoros had to play their first leg away from home.
Moreover, Gambia advanced by defeating Gabon in a tense penalty shootout. After two goalless draws, Gambia successfully converted all five penalties, winning 5-3, which positions them for a final clash against Algeria, who received a bye.
The CHAN tournament is significant as it exclusively features players from domestic leagues, with all matches recognized as international, contributing to FIFA world rankings. Historically, Morocco and the Democratic Republic of Congo have each claimed the title twice, while Tunisia, Libya, and Senegal have one championship each.
In conclusion, South Africa’s impressive win over Egypt, along with Malawi’s decisive victory against the Comoros and Gambia’s penalty shootout success against Gabon, highlights their progression to the next round of the CHAN qualifiers. The tournament remains unique in its focus on domestic league players, emphasizing the importance of regional football development. With the rescheduled tournament set for August, anticipation builds for an exciting competition.
Original Source: newscentral.africa
