CHAN Qualifiers: South Africa, Malawi, and Gambia Advance

South Africa, Malawi, and Gambia have advanced in the CHAN qualifiers. South Africa defeated Egypt 3-1 to face Malawi next. Malawi won 2-0 against the Comoros, while Gambia triumphed in a penalty shootout against Gabon. The CHAN tournament is rescheduled for August.

South Africa achieved an impressive 3-1 victory against Egypt in Ismailia, securing their position in the final qualifying round of the African Nations Championship (CHAN). Following a 1-1 first-leg draw in Bloemfontein, South Africa advanced with a 4-2 aggregate score and will now compete against Malawi in a two-legged tie set for May.

The CHAN tournament, initially slated for February, has been rescheduled to August due to preparation delays and will be hosted across Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda. Despite being viewed as favorites after the initial draw, Egypt struggled to keep pace with South Africa, only going into halftime trailing 2-1.

South African captain and midfielder Neo Maema initiated the scoring in the 15th minute and nearly achieved a first-half hat-trick, striking the post twice. Yandisa Mfolozi added a second goal in the 27th minute when Egypt failed to clear a cross; however, Egypt’s Abou el Enein responded five minutes later, temporarily lifting Egyptian spirits.

South Africa solidified their advantage when Siphelele Luthuli scored a penalty just six minutes into the second half, extending their aggregate lead. With Egypt needing a minimum of three goals to advance, their chances of a comeback seemed slim throughout the match.

In another match, Malawi qualified easily by defeating the Comoros with a 4-0 aggregate score, following a 2-0 victory in the second leg thanks to goals from Wongani Lungu and Binwell Katinji in the second half.

The Comoros faced the challenge of playing their first-leg match away from home due to lacking an internationally compliant stadium. Additionally, Gambia progressed after a tense penalty shootout victory over Gabon. Following two draws, they maintained composure to successfully convert all five penalties, winning 5-3 and setting the stage for a final-round match against Algeria, who received a bye.

The CHAN tournament is distinctive in international football as it features only players actively competing in their domestic leagues. The matches are recognized as having full international status and positively impact FIFA world rankings. Morocco and the Democratic Republic of Congo are the only teams to have won the tournament twice, while Tunisia, Libya, and Senegal have secured one title each.

The recent qualifying matches for the 2023 CHAN tournament have revealed significant victories for South Africa, Malawi, and Gambia. South Africa triumphed over Egypt to secure their place in the final round while Malawi comfortably defeated the Comoros. Additionally, Gambia emerged victorious after a penalty shootout against Gabon. With the tournament now rescheduled to August, these teams are poised for competitive matches that highlight domestic talent on an international stage.

Original Source: newscentral.africa