South Africa's U20 team flying the flag high after securing quarterfinal spot in AFCON
Raymond Mdaka and his SA U20 side are lookig to qualify for the World Cup later this year. | BackpagePix
South Africa's U20 national team are through to the quarterfinals of the U20 Africa Cup of Nations after holding Zambia to a 1-1 draw in their final Group A match at the Suez Canal Stadium on Friday night.
The result saw Amajita finish top of the group and book a place in the knockout stages, where they will face DR Congo on Monday at the same venue.
Coach Raymond Mdaka's side showed character and tactical maturity in a match that required more control than flair.
Amajita took an early lead when Kutlwano Letlhaku found the net in the eighth minute, giving South Africa the perfect start.
Zambia, needing a win to progress, responded quickly with an equaliser just three minutes later, but despite being under pressure for long spells, South Africa held their shape and saw the game out to get the result they needed.
'Our game against Zambia in the final group stage match, we knew it would be a bit tricky because of the margin of the points,' said Mdaka.
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