Amajimbos Take First Place in Standings Following Draw with Cameroon

South Africa successfully fended off a strong challenge from Cameroon, securing a goalless draw in their CAF Under-17 Championship Group B encounter at Stade Larbi Zaouli on Thursday.

In the face of considerable pressure during the first half, South Africa improved their game in the second half, with Teboho Mlangeni just missing a scoring opportunity after rounding the goalkeeper, Junior Lopez.

This draw positions South Africa at the top of Group B with four points from two matches, while Cameroon managed to earn their first point in the group stage.

South Africa came into this match following an exciting 4-3 victory over Egypt in their opening Group B game on Monday, where Emile Witbooi was a standout player for the Amajimbos.

In contrast, Cameroon approached the match after suffering a 2-1 loss against Burkina Faso in their first group match.

The early stages of the match highlighted Cameroon’s urgency as they launched continuous assaults, putting significant pressure on the Amajimbos.

Cameroon nearly took the lead when Andre Emini’s left-footed strike hit the post, narrowly beating goalkeeper Lwandiso Radebe.

The Cameroonian team continued to put the South African defense under strain, which opted for a deep defensive line to withstand the pressure.

However, Njabulo Mzimela wasted a golden chance for South Africa by missing a close-range header that went wide.

Vela Khumalo’s side was fortunate to enter halftime without conceding, despite being under sustained pressure from the physically robust Cameroonians.

The Amajimbos displayed significant improvement after the break, shifting to a more assertive approach, likely spurred by an encouraging halftime speech from coach Khumalo.

As South Africa’s confidence grew, they created several attacking opportunities, primarily driven by Witbooi. Nonetheless, Cameroon’s physicality proved effective in stifling South Africa’s efforts.

Despite contending with Cameroon’s strength, South Africa showcased technical finesse in maneuvering through tight spaces to alleviate the pressure.

In a close call in the 86th minute, Witbooi set Mlangeni up, who rounded Lopez but mishit his shot, allowing Cameroon to avert the danger.

South Africa will conclude their group stage matches against Burkina Faso at the same venue in Casablanca, while Egypt is scheduled to face Cameroon. Both matches are set to kick off simultaneously on Sunday.