South Africa have taken a major step toward the knockout rounds of the U-20 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) after claiming a 4-1 win over Group A rivals Sierra Leone at the Suez Canal Stadium in Ismailia.

Goals from Jody Ah Shene, Neo Rapoo and substitute Thabang Mahlangu (two) have taken Amajita to within touching distance of qualification for the quarterfinals – and one step closer to the U-20 World Cup in Chile.

Sierra Leone looked the more dangerous team in the early stages, but South Africa claimed the lead in the 13th minute, with Jody Ah Shene scoring with a deflected long range strike that flew into the back of the net.

The match then settled into a rhythm, with the West Africans pressing for an equaliser, while Amajita created several promising attacks on the break, with Ah Shene, Shakeel April and Neo Rapoo all threatening to add to their team’s advantage.

The Leone Stars upped their game in the second half, and SA goalkeeper Fletcher Lowe was forced into a sharp save to keep out a free kick from Amara Keita, followed shortly by a free header for Abraham Kanu which the defender put wide of the target.

Amajita made their opponents pay for their misses, as a swift counter attack saw Ah Shene play a superb cross-field pass to put Rapoo in on goal – the winger evaded goalkeeper Dauda Bangura and tapped into an empty net for 2-0 in the 60th minute.

Sierra Leone pulled a goal back in the 69th minute via Momoh Kamara, whose left-footed shot beat Lowe at his near post after a slight deflection off Siviwe Nkwali.

However, with the West Africans pushing for an equaliser, SA scored a third goal to kill off the game and seal all three points, with Rapoo doing great work to win possession high up the field before squaring for substitute Thabang Mahlangu, who easily finished from close range to make it 3-1.

And there was even time for Mahlangu to net his second in the 89th minute, finishing off left-footed after being teed up by Patrick Autata’s header.

South Africa will complete their Group A campaign with a match against regional rivals Zambia at the 30 June Stadium in Cairo on Friday 9 May.

Sierra Leone U-20 (0) 1 (M. Kamara 69’)

South Africa U-20 (1) 4 (J. Ah Shene 13’, N. Rapoo 60’, T. Mahlangu 86’, 89’)

SL: D. Bangura, M. Kamara, A. Turay, A. Kanu (A. Kabia 68’), A. Keita, S. Kallon, A. Bangura (S. Bah 46’), M. Kamara, A. Dumbuya (S. Fornah 68’), O. Kamara, S. Kargbo (S. Gandi 46’)

SA: F. Lowe, S. Timba, T. Smith, S. Nkwali, T. Sibiya, G. Kekana, M. Vilakazi (P. Autata 72’), L. Maku, S. April (L. Phili 83’), N. Rapoo, J. Ah Shene (T. Mahlangu 83’)