Staff Reporter.
The South African Under-23 national team’s dream of playing at the 2023 U-23 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco came to an end after a 0-0 draw with Congo-Brazzaville in an away second leg qualifier extinguished all hope on Monday.
Notoane made four changes to the starting line-up that played in the 1-1 draw against the Congolese in the first leg at Dobsonville a few days ago, but this was not enough to ease past a determined home side that was also motivated by vociferous home crowd.
The two teams went into the break deadlocked at 0-0 after a few missed opportunities from both sides that forced the goalkeepers to work overtime.
It was a much improved second half performance from the South Africans, but they could not break Congo and find the crucial goal they desperately sought. Congo managed to keep their nerve and hold onto the 1-1 aggregate and advanced on the away goal rule.
The defeat means South Africa will not be participating in the U23 Afcon tournament to be hosted by Morocco in June 2023 and the Paris Olympic Games in 2024.
The eight-team U-23 Nations Cup in Morocco in June and July serves as the qualifier for the 2024 Paris Olympics men’s football tournament.
The non-qualification is a blow to the future prospects of the next generation of South African footballers and comes as Bafana Bafana face failure to qualify for the senior Nations Cup if they cannot beat Liberia in Monrovia on Tuesday (6pm SA time).