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Jonathan Jordan of South Africa (21) celebrates goal during the 2017 Total Zambia U-20 African Cup of Nations match between South Africa v Senegal at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium, Ndola Zambia on 02 March 2017 ©Muzi Ntombela/BackpagePix
Senegal came from behind to beat South Africa 4-3 in a thrilling U20 Africa Cup of Nations Group B encounter at the Levy Mwanawasa Stadium in Ndola on Wednesday.
The result means, Amajita, Senegal and Cameroon are all tied on three points going to the final group matches on March 5. Cameroon beat Sudan 4-1 in the earlier match.
It was Amajita who hit the ground running with Sporting Lisbon forward Liam Jordan opening the scoring inside the opening minute with a brilliant header.
The goal seem to have awakened a beat in the South Africans as they poured forward in search of the second, Phakamani Mahlambi showed the defender a clean pair of heels but his cross to Sibo Mbatha was cleared out for a corner.
Then tables turned, Senegal had Amajita on the ropes for much longer spell beginning in the 5th minute when Ibrahima Ndiaye cut through a bevy of defenders but fired wide off goal.
Aliou Badji should have equalised for Senegal in the 7th minute but was denied by the cross bar with goalkeeper Mondli Mpoto seemingly a beaten man.
A minute later, Ndiaye was at it again this time doing well to beat a defender only to watch in agony as his shot ballooned over the cross bar into the stands.
Again tables turned and Senegal found themselves in the receiving end but Amajita wasted two good chances in the 17th and 18th minute due to poor decision making, players opting to shoot instead of passing.
Captain Tercios Malepe who missed the first game due to suspension then made it 2-0 for South Africa after being well setup by Luther Singh in the 24th minute.
Action swayed from one end to the other but there was nothing fruitful coming out of the attacks from both teams and the referee blew for halftime with Amajita firmly in control.
In the second half it was Senegal who settled first as they pulled one back in the 48th minute through Ndiaye, a goal that set up a massive comeback for the Young Lions.
In the 54th minute, Ousseynou Diagne levelled matters for the Lions of Teranga with a fine finish and the goal seem to knock Amajita’s confidence as they began to make mistakes.
Diagne completed his brace, putting Senegal ahead in 60th minute and Krepin Diatta there turned the knife on Amajita’s back making it 4-0 in the 70th minute with a fine strike from the edge of the box.
With 10 minutes of regulation time remaining, Luther Singh showed some piece of genius and individual brilliance as he danced through the Senegal defence before squeezing the ball past the Senegal goalkeeper Lamine Sarr to make it 4-3 to setup a nervy finish to the match.
On the stroke of fulltime, Amajita had a chance to force a four-all draw but Teboho Mokoena’s volley was kept out by the cross bar and the referee blew his whistle to for fulltime.