South Africa Edge Egypt 2-1 in Crucial U-17 AFCON Qualifier
South Africa secured a vital 2-1 home victory against Egypt in the third and final first-leg round of qualifying for the Under-17 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), scheduled to take place in Niger in 2015.
Nelson Maluleke was the standout performer for the South African side, netting both goals that secured the win. Egypt’s lone goal came from Walid Attia Mourad.
The return leg is set for the weekend of September 26-29, 2014, with South Africa aiming to book their place in the tournament’s final stage.
Qualification would mark South Africa’s third appearance in the U-17 AFCON finals, having previously competed in 2005 and 2007. Their best performance came in 2005, where they finished fourth but, notably, did not qualify for the FIFA U-17 World Cup that year.
The young South Africans will now look to build on their strong first-leg advantage as they prepare for the decisive second leg.
