It’s official. The South African U23 national soccer team, Amaglug, Glug, have not qualified for the Athens Olympics when they lost to Ghana 2-1 in Pretoria on Saturday. There was no score at half-time.
In wet slippery conditions and both teams playing with 10 men after South African defender, Edward Malinga, and Ghana’s, Addo Ishmael, were shown a red card in the 31st minute, it was the visitors who got the breakthrough.
Pinpong Razak, put Ghana ahead in the 46th minute but Benedict Vilakazi -named man of the match — levelled matters for the home side in the 52nd minute.
However, the joy was short lived when Razak scored his brace in the 71st minute.
The Ghanaians who beat Amaglug-Glug 1-0 in Accra last year October now lie second in Group D with 10 points from five games.
Zambia, also with 10 points, beat Algeria 4-2 in another second leg qualifier on Saturday occupy first position in the group by virtue of a better goal difference.
Amaglug-Glug are last in Group D with a mere three points from their five games with their only win being a 4-1 drubbing of Algeria last December.
The two teams meet again in a meaningless fixture on March 28. – Sapa