SA fail to qualify for CHAN

South Africa missed out from next year’s African Nations Championship (CHAN) after losing at home to Angola on Sunday.

The South Africans slumped to a 4-1 in Soweto to bow out 6-1 on aggregate.

It was the home team who got off to a great start with Prince Nxumalo halving the aggregate deficit by nodding home a free-kick just six minutes into the first half.

But disaster struck for the home side on 39 minutes when an attempted headed clearance by Mosa Lebusa looped over goalkeeper Reyaad Pieterse into his own net.

It left South Africa needing to score three unanswered goals to survive with a team sorely weakened by the absence of stars on club duty.

Angola grew stronger as the second half progressed with Jaredi Teixeira a constant menace on the left wing.

He set up the second and fourth goals for Deivi Viera and Daniel Kilola, and Joaquim Paciencia netted the third with a free-kick that flew in off the underside of the crossbar.

Cameroon, fourth when they hosted the 2020 tournament, netted twice late in the opening half to beat Equatorial Guinea 2-0 and squeeze through having lost 1-0 away

Ghana also eliminated Nigeria on penalties on Sunday in the capital Abuja.

Trailing 2-0 after the first leg, Nigeria staged a late rally in Abuja to win the return match 2-0 through goals from Zulkifilu Rabiu and Chijioke Akuneto, from an added-time penalty.

Ghana converted all five spot-kicks in the shootout, while Maurice Ugochukwu missed to eliminate 2018 runners-up Nigeria.

The dramatic victory took two-time beaten finalists Ghana back to the finals after failing to qualify for the last three editions. – AFP