S’Africa, Others Fall In CHAN Qualifiers

South Africa suffered a shock 3-0 loss to visiting Lesotho at the weekend to bow out of qualifying for the 2020 African Nations Championship (CHAN) in Cameroon.
With clubs refusing to release players as the game clashed with the opening day of South Africa’s Premier Soccer League, the hosts were forced to field a young, makeshift side.
Despite fielding under-strength side, South Africa were expected to overturn the 3-2 loss away in the first leg of the tie penultimate weekend.
Instead Lesotho scored three second-half goals to complete a 6-2 aggregate win and book a date with Zimbabwe to qualify for the finals in Cameroon next year.
After a goaless first half, it was Jane Thaba Ntso with two goals and Hlompho Kalake that secured the win.
Kenya were another casualty after losing 4-1 on penalties in Nairobi following a second 0-0 draw with east African neighbours Tanzania in successive weekends.
Erasto Nyoni, Paulo Nyanganya, Gadiel Michael and Salim Hamis converted spot-kicks for the visitors while only Clifton Miheso was on target for Kenya.
The match attracted a 30,000 crowd to the Kasarani Stadium after Kenyan officials slashed ticket prices up to 80 percent to 100 shillings ($0.96/0.86 euros).
Togo ended an 11-year wait for a first CHAN qualifying win when they edged Benin 1-0 in Lome through a Marouf Tchakei goal on 70 minutes.