South Africa, Malawi, and Gambia have qualified for the final round of the CHAN tournament. South Africa defeated Egypt 3-1, Malawi beat the Comoros 4-0 on aggregate, and Gambia won a penalty shootout against Gabon. The tournament is now set for August 2023.
South Africa recently secured their spot in the final qualifying round for the African Nations Championship (CHAN) with a spectacular 3-1 victory over Egypt, leading to a 4-2 aggregate win. The team will next face Malawi in a two-legged tie in May for a chance to compete in the tournament, which has been moved from February to August due to delays.
Egypt, under pressure, struggled against South Africa’s energetic play and was fortunate to enter halftime trailing only 2-1. South African captain Neo Maema opened the scoring in the 15th minute, nearly achieving a hat-trick by hitting the woodwork twice. Yandisa Mfolozi added the second goal, but Egypt responded quickly with a goal by Abou el Enein, pushing the score to 2-1.
However, Siphelele Luthuli’s penalty six minutes into the second half restored South Africa’s two-goal lead. With Egypt needing at least three goals to advance under away-goal rules, their hopes dissipated as they failed to create significant threats.
In parallel, Malawi advanced confidently by completing a 4-0 aggregate win against the Comoros, winning 2-0 in Lilongwe with second-half goals from Wongani Lungu and Binwell Katinji. The Comoros played their first-leg match away due to a lack of suitable home stadiums.
Additionally, Gambia secured their place in the next round after defeating Gabon through a penalty shootout, converting all five penalties to win 5-3 following two drawn matches. Gambia’s victory leads to a matchup against Algeria, who received a bye.
Unlike other international tournaments, CHAN is exclusively for players from domestic leagues, contributing to FIFA rankings and holding full international match status. Historically, Morocco and the Democratic Republic of Congo are the most successful, each winning the tournament twice, while Tunisia, Libya, and Senegal each hold one title.
South Africa, Malawi, and Gambia have advanced to the final qualifying round of the CHAN tournament after impressive performances. South Africa met expectations against Egypt, while Malawi efficiently overcame the Comoros, and Gambia succeeded dramatically in a penalty shootout. The tournament, now rescheduled for August, highlights local league talent, affecting FIFA rankings.
Original Source: newscentral.africa
