AFRICAN SPORTS MONTHLY
'Sports is our Business'
  • Home
  • NEWS
  • Radio
  • TV

South Africa seal semi-final spot, Senegal win

12/5/2015

0 Comments

 
Picture
© Getty Images

A late Menzi Masuku goal gave South Africa a 1-0 win over Tunisia Friday in Senegalese city M'Bour and a place at the African 2016 Men's Olympic Football Tournament qualifying competition semi-finals.

Senegal won the other Group A match 1-0 against Zambia in Dakar through an early Mouhamadou 'Habib' Diallo goal to finish with a perfect three-victory record and nine points. South Africa came second with six points, Tunisia third with three and Zambia lost all three games to exit the competition pointless.


Senegal face the Group B runners-up in the first semi-final of a Dakar double-header next Wednesday followed by South Africa against the Group B winners. Algeria, Nigeria and Egypt are in contention for knockout places from Group B, with the final matches Saturday also involving already-eliminated Mali.

The Algerians and Nigerians have four points each ahead of a Dakar showdown while Egypt, two points behind, meet Mali in M'Bour, a coastal city 70 kilometres (44 miles) south of the capital. South Africa could afford to draw at Stade Caroline Faye while Tunisia had to collect maximum points.

Clearcut first-half chances were scarce in dusty conditions with captain Keagan Dolly going closest for South Africa through a free-kick that goalkeeper Sabri Ben Hassen acrobatically parried to safety. Tunisia finished the half strongly and unmarked Khaldoun Mansour chose the wrong option when wasting a close-range chance as he tried to score at the near post rather than aiming for the far corner.

The North Africans dominated much of the second half with the aerial strength of Haythem Jouini and his fellow attackers putting the South Africans under continuous pressure. South Africa finished stronger, though, and squandered several good chances before Masuku snatched the match-winner five minutes from time.

Phakamani Mahlambi sped past three defenders in a solo run before crossing for unmarked Masuku to tap the ball into the net. Assured of topping the table before they kicked-off at Stade Leopold Sedar Senghor, Senegal needed only four minutes to grab the match-winner against Zambia.

Sylvain Badji floated a corner to the edge of the six-yard box and a powerful Diallo header flew beyond new goalkeeper Kenny Mumba. Mumba got the nod ahead of off-form Toaster Nsabata, who was replaced as captain by Salulani Phiri.
Footballers born on or after 1 January 1993 are eligible for worldwide Olympic qualifiers with three over-age players permitted at the finals in Brazil next August.

By: FIFA.com
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Archives

    January 2023
    December 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    September 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    June 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    December 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013

    Menu

    All
    2014 FIFA World Cup
    Athletics
    Basketball
    Boxing
    Commonwealth Games
    Cricket
    Golf
    Hockey
    Marathons
    News
    Olympics
    Rugby
    Soccer
    Spotlight
    Tennis
    Track And Field
    Volleyball
    Women Soccer
    Wrestling


    Picture

    RSS Feed


    Tweets by ASMONTHLY

Tweet to @ASMONTHLY

Contact Us

    Contact Us

Submit

Donate & Support Our Efforts at African Sports Media Network