Cosafa
Amajimbos still unbeaten after Cameroon stalemate
South Africa were involved in a scoreless draw for the first time in the Under-17 Africa Cup of Nations group stages after their clash with Cameroon finished 0-0 at the Larbi Zaouli Stadium on Thursday, April 3.
Vela Khumalo’s side moved to the top of Group B on four points after beating Egypt 4-3 in their opener on March 31, although Burkina Faso were due to face the Pharaohs later on that same day.
The Indomitable Lions occupy third place with their first point of the tournament, although they are now winless in their last five AFCON outings stretching back to 2019.
Cameroon made the better start in Casablanca as they swarmed all over South Africa when out of possession and put plenty of early pressure on the opposition goal.
Solethu Radebe had to punch away a free-kick from David Nyangono in the seventh minute before the goalkeeper blocked Andre Emini’s shot from an angle on the left two minutes later.
Radebe was called into action again on 16 minutes after Franck Luma hit a shot on the turn from the edge of the box and the woodwork came to Amajimbos’ rescue moments later when Emini showed great technique to flick the ball up and crash a volley against the left post.
South Africa weren’t able to use their pace to much effect in the first half as the ball held up on the surface, but they finally had a sniff at goal on 21 minutes from a short-corner routine which saw Khayalethu Mzimela steer a free header over the crossbar.
David Bondoma should perhaps have done better when he controlled a square pass from the right and turned his marker inside the box before firing wide of the near post on 31 minutes.
The Indomitable Lions continued to look dangerous and they went close again five minutes before the break as substitute Arnold Massokon forced Radebe into a save after being played into space on the left.
The pattern was much the same in the second half, with Cameroon pressing South Africa at every opportunity and quickly regaining possession. Radebe took no chances on 61 minutes as he tipped the ball over the bar after Marc Yoss cut inside from the left to loft a shot on goal.
However, the Indomitable Lions weren’t nearly as threatening as they were in the first half and Radebe had a much quieter game in the second 45 minutes.
A rare chance for the Amajimbos saw Emile Witbooi fail to test Junior Abou with a free-kick that sailed over the bar, while Bondoma passed up a good opportunity to win it at the death when he sliced a shot high and wide of the target after being teed up on the edge of the box.
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