South Africa U20 picked up their second win as they beat Sierra Leone U20 4-1 in their CAF U20 Africa Cup of Nations group game at the Suez Canal Stadium on Tuesday evening.
It was an important fixture for South Africa against the unbeaten group leaders, who had won two and drawn once in their opening three games to have already qualified for the knockout stages. This was Amajita’s third game, with one win and one loss, while Sierra Leone’s Shooting Stars were playing their fourth and final group game.
Amajita started well, having a lot of possession, though they weren’t making too many inroads in the final third, and it was Sierra Leone with the first shot on goal, but Fletcher Smythe-Lowe comfortably saved Momoh Kamara’s attempt in the 13th minute
And almost immediately after, Amajita struck. The ball was moved forward quickly down the right, Shakeel April backheeled a pass to Jody Ah-Shene, who fired in a powerful shot from outside the area that took a slight deflection to make it 1-0.
It was almost a second two minutes later, but Dauda Bangura saved at close range from Lazola Maku.
Smythe-Lowe was called into action in the 34th minute, saving a headed attempt from Alpha Turay. A minute later, at the other end, Ah-Shene went just wide with another deflected effort from range. At the break, it was the Cape Town City striker’s goal that separated the two teams, with Sierra Leone behind for the first time in a match this competition.
April had a good chance in the second minute of the second half, but his shot lacked power and was comfortably saved by Bangura. Having made several changes at the break, Sierra Leone weren’t lying down, and the South African defence was being tested, Smythe-Lowe having to make a diving save to deny Sheku Kallon in the 57th minute, while a minute later Kanu’s header went narrowly wide.
But it was 2-0 on the hour mark. Another swift counter down the right, saw April pass to Ah-Shene, who sent a great low cross and the captain on the day, Neo Rapoo, was at the end to finish a great move.
Kamara went close in the 64th minute, shooting across the face of the goal, but the tournament’s top goalscorer would get his goal five minutes later, a great left-foot shot, leaving Smythe-Lowe with no chance.
The Shooting Stars were piling on the pressure, and Smythe-Lowe made another excellent save to deny Sallieu Bah from equalising in the 73rd minute.
Smythe-Lowe made another save in the 81st minute, as Arsenal youth player Osman Kamara tried from the edge of the area.
And having survived that onslaught, Raymond Mdaka’s team wrapped up the result in style, as Thabang Mahlangu, who had come off the bench, added South Africa’s third in the 86th minute, before the SuperSport United striker grabbed his second two minutes later.
Amajita need a point in their final group game against Zambia to confirm their place in the knockout stages.
