Mdaka praises South Africa U23s for crucial win against Madagascar

South Africa U23 coach Raymond Mdaka has welcomed his team’s 1-0 victory over Madagascar in the first leg of their second-round 2028 Olympic qualifier in Pretoria.

The match was officially Madagascar’s home fixture, although it was played on South African soil. Quwan Plaatjies came off the bench to score the only goal late in the second half, giving Amaglug-glug a narrow advantage to take into the return match.

The teams will meet again at Lucas Moripe Stadium next Tuesday afternoon. The winners of the tie will progress to the third round in 2027, where they will face either Rwanda or Cameroon.

Mdaka was particularly pleased that his side recorded an away victory without conceding, although both matches are being played at the same venue.

“It was an away game at home which people think is positive,” said Mdaka after the match. “But what matters most is the results because we have got the away goal rule.

“And if it works, we felt the best thing is for us not to concede and at least get a goal because we’re playing away, which we think we’re not going to rely on that going to the next game. But I think it was very, very important for us to get that three points playing away, sort of.”

The result gives South Africa an important lead ahead of the second leg, while Madagascar must win to keep their Olympic qualifying campaign alive.

The qualification process leads to the U23 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) tournament in Egypt. Eight African teams who successfully come through the qualifiers will reach that competition.

The two finalists at the U23 AFCON will then represent Africa at the multi-coded event in Los Angeles in 2028.

For now, South Africa’s focus is on completing the tie against Madagascar and securing a place in the third round, with the decisive fixture scheduled for Tuesday at the same venue.