South Africa delivered a stunning 3-1 victory over Egypt in Ismailia on Sunday, securing their place in the final qualifying round for the African Nations Championship (CHAN).
With a 4-2 aggregate win following a 1-1 first-leg draw in Bloemfontein last weekend, South Africa will now face Malawi in a two-legged tie in May for a spot at the biennial tournament.
Originally scheduled for February, the 19-nation CHAN tournament—which will take place across Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda—has been postponed to August due to delays in preparations.
Despite being the favourites after their draw in South Africa, Egypt struggled to match their high-energy opponents. The hosts were fortunate to trail only 2-1 at halftime.
South African captain and standout midfielder Neo Maema broke the deadlock in the 15th minute and came close to a first-half hat-trick, striking the woodwork twice. Yandisa Mfolozi doubled the lead in the 27th minute after Egypt failed to clear a cross, but the Pharaohs quickly responded through Abou el Enein five minutes later.
Any hopes of a comeback were crushed when Siphelele Luthuli converted a penalty six minutes into the second half, restoring South Africa’s two-goal cushion both on the night and on aggregate. Egypt needed at least three goals to progress under the away-goal rule, and Egypt never looked likely to mount a comeback.
Elsewhere, Malawi comfortably sealed their qualification by completing a 4-0 aggregate win over the Comoros. They followed up their first-leg victory with a 2-0 win in Lilongwe on Saturday, thanks to second-half strikes from Wongani Lungu and Binwell Katinji.
The Comoros were forced to play their first-leg match away from home, as the island nation lacks a stadium that meets international standards.
Meanwhile, Gambia also advanced after defeating Gabon in a penalty shootout. After two goalless draws, Gambia held their nerve to convert all five of their penalties, winning 5-3 in Franceville. Their victory sets up a final-round clash with Algeria, who had a bye.
The CHAN tournament stands out in international football as it is exclusively for players competing in their domestic leagues. The matches carry full international status and contribute to FIFA world rankings.
Morocco and the Democratic Republic of Congo have each won the tournament twice, while Tunisia, Libya, and Senegal have one title apiece.
