MARRAKECH - South Africa's Olympic football qualifying run came to an end on Saturday night when Baby Bafana were outclassed 2-0 by a spirited Egyptian outfit at the CAF Under-23 Championships in Marrakech, Morocco.
The South Africans needed to win against Egypt in their final Group B encounter to keep alive their dream of qualifying for next year's London Games.
After a goalless first half, the Egyptians broke the deadlock in the first play after the interval, with striker Mohamed El Eny slotting in a shot from the edge of the box in the 46th minute after Thami Sangweni lost the ball in midfield.
They doubled the margin after 63 minutes through a header from Mohsen Gamal, who connected with a cross from Sabhi Mohamed on the left. The South Africans finished bottom with two points.
Gabon stunned Ivory Coast 3-1 in a simultaneous tie in Tangier to claim the crucial second spot for the last four stage, joining the Egyptians in the playoffs. The top three teams will qualify for the London Games, while the fourth team will go into a playoff with an Asian opponent. This was Baby Bafana's poorest effort of the tournament against a superbly organised Egyptian outfit.
The wheels came off when coach Shakes Mashaba took off trusted defender Thulani Hlatshwayo for striker Rodney Ramagalela at half time in a last-ditch effort to find the back of the net.
The plan backfired as Egypt piled on the pressure, building on their momentum from the opening period.
Egypt face hosts Morocco in Marrakech and Gabon are up against Senegal in Tangier in next week's semifinals.
Baby Bafana dream dies
MARRAKECH - South Africa's Olympic football qualifying run came to an end on Saturday night when Baby Bafana were outclassed 2-0 by a spirited Egyptian outfit at the CAF Under-23 Championships in Marrakech, Morocco.
The South Africans needed to win against Egypt in their final Group B encounter to keep alive their dream of qualifying for next year's London Games.
After a goalless first half, the Egyptians broke the deadlock in the first play after the interval, with striker Mohamed El Eny slotting in a shot from the edge of the box in the 46th minute after Thami Sangweni lost the ball in midfield.
They doubled the margin after 63 minutes through a header from Mohsen Gamal, who connected with a cross from Sabhi Mohamed on the left. The South Africans finished bottom with two points.
Gabon stunned Ivory Coast 3-1 in a simultaneous tie in Tangier to claim the crucial second spot for the last four stage, joining the Egyptians in the playoffs. The top three teams will qualify for the London Games, while the fourth team will go into a playoff with an Asian opponent. This was Baby Bafana's poorest effort of the tournament against a superbly organised Egyptian outfit.
The wheels came off when coach Shakes Mashaba took off trusted defender Thulani Hlatshwayo for striker Rodney Ramagalela at half time in a last-ditch effort to find the back of the net.
The plan backfired as Egypt piled on the pressure, building on their momentum from the opening period.
Egypt face hosts Morocco in Marrakech and Gabon are up against Senegal in Tangier in next week's semifinals.
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