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Tough Olympic permutations set to give Junior Bafana sleepless nights

The carrot being dangled in front of the South African men’s Under-23 side at the Olympic Games is a potential quarterfinal meeting with Nigeria as they head into Wednesday’s must-win clash with Iraq.

Victory against the Middle East side would likely see South Africa advance as runners-up in the pool‚ though the Iraqis have proven a tough nut to crack in successive 0-0 draws against Denmark and Brazil.

Denmark currently head the standings with four points‚ Iraq and Brazil have two‚ while South Africa have just one from their opening draw with Brazil.

But victory against Iraq‚ coupled by another draw between Denmark and Brazil‚ would see South Africa finish as runners up behind the Danes and set up a showdown with Nigeria‚ who have already qualified as the top side in Group B.

The same scenario would play out with a win for Denmark against the miss-firing Brazilians.

And should Brazil and South Africa win‚ it would leave Owen da Gama’s side level on four points with the Danes in second‚ with goal-difference then used as a tie-breaker between the teams.

Single goal wins for each would favour Denmark though in that scenario as both they and South Africa would have four points‚ an even goal-difference and have scored one goal each.

The next tie-breaker is then the result of the match between the two sides and with Denmark having triumphed 1-0 on Sunday‚ it would be they who advance.

But what is for sure is that South Africa must win to stand any chance of making it through.

With four games played at the tournament by both the men’s Under-23 team and Banyana Banyana‚ they have yet to manage a goal despite creating a host of chances.

Perhaps that change in luck for the men will come against Iraq‚ who are compact and organised‚ but have their own challenges in the final third.

Should Da Gama’s side advance as runners-up they would face the Nigerians in Salvador on Saturday.

Banyana have already been ousted from the competition and play for pride in their final pool match against hosts Brazil‚ who have already qualified for the next stage.

That game is on Tuesday in the Amazon jungle town of Manaus. - TMG Digital

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