South Africa will not participate at their third consecutive Olympic Games men’s football tournament after the under-23 national team was bounced from 2023 Africa U-23 Cup of Nations qualifying by Republic of Congo following their second leg scoreless draw on Monday in Brazzaville. After a 1-1 first leg result in Johannesburg last week, the Congolese qualify for the AFCON U-23 on the away goal rule where they will make their first appearance when the competition kicks off in Morocco in late June.
By all reports the match was a tense affair with the Congolese team eager to defend the advantage gained in the first leg. South Africa coach David Notoane brought Kaizer Chiefs playmaker Mduduzi Shababala into the starting eleven as well as English-based midfielder Kegs Chauke but the problems remained the same from the first leg. The lack of a cutting edge from the South African attack gave way to a physical battle that the Congolese were well prepared for with chances few and far between.
Republic of Congo join Egypt at the eight-team finals in Morocco with the result after Egypt finished the job against Zambia on Sunday for a 2-0 aggregate victory.
