South Africa (4) 5, Benin (0) 1
(SA win 6-4 on aggregate)
South Africa's Under-23 football team were in a rampant mood yesterday. They went into this match on a two-goal deficit after losing 3-1 away to Benin a fortnight ago.
But, in a stunning performance, they turned their Olympic fortunes around dramatically with four goals in the first half.
Their win booked them a place in the eight-nation tournament in December from which the top three teams will qualify for next year's Olympic Games in London.
The fourth-placed side will go into a play-off against an Asian team. Olympic football is limited to players younger than 23, with only three exceptions allowed.
Yesterday, the South Africans showed willpower and determination in scoring early goals in the first half that put Benin on the back foot and never allowed them to recover.
The first strike by South Africa came as early as the 16th minute from Ace Bhengu.
Then the quality of goals scored got better. Thami Sangweni - the younger brother of Bafana's Siyabonga Sangweni - unleashed a thunderbolt from just inside the Benin half to beat keeper Salami Wassiou.
Mandla Masango and Baby Bafana's leading marksman, Bongani Ndulula, added two more goals in the first half to go to the break leading 4-0.
Benin then brought on Erick Bilao in place of Wassiou, who appeared to be shattered by the barrage in the first 45 minutes.
Benin appeared galvanised in the second half, realising that only two goals would be enough for them to win this tie on the away-goal rule.
And they almost achieved this when, in the 79th minute, Fadel Abdel beat South African goalkeeper Darren Keet, causing some nervous moments for Baby Bafana.
However, Ndulula guaranteed a win with his 87th-minute goal.
Baby Bafana coach Shakes Mashaba had been despondent in the days leading up to this game.
But yesterday Mashaba was all smiles after winning despite the absence of Cape Town Ajax's Thulani Serero and Thulani Hlatshwayo. Ajax relented on George Maluleka later in the week, but Mashaba left him out of yesterday's selection.
It was the single Ajax player allowed to join the Under-23s who proved most instrumental in this victory. Sameehg Doutie created the first goal and was involved in most build-ups to the other goals.
- Morocco beat the Democratic Republic of Congo 3-2 in another Olympic qualifier.
Algeria beat Zambia 3-2; Egypt outplayed Sudan 2-0; Senegal pipped Tunisia 1-0 and Ivory Coast thrashed Congo Brazzaville 3-1.
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