CHAN: South Africa and Niger stumble to draw

Two missed calls by the Video Assistant Referee were the highlights of an uninspired 0-0 draw between South Africa and Niger to close out Friday’s action from the 2024 African Nations Championship (CHAN) at the Mandela National Stadium in Kampala, Uganda.

It was a missed opportunity for South Africa to move top of Group C and assert themselves for a place in the quarterfinals. Bafana Bafana controlled the first half and Niger escaped a penalty kick opportunity against them when referee Bouchra Karboubi rightly overturned her initial call.

However, at the end of the first half, Karboubi and her crew appeared to miss a clear penalty when Ndabayithethwa Ndlondlo’s attempt from a rebound was blocked by scrambling Nigerien defender Mohamed Abdourahmane. Initially called a corner kick, Karboubi saw nothing to change her mind on the VAR review even though it appeared that the ball came off Abdourahmane’s arm to prevent a goal.

The Nigerien team showed more endeavour in the second half as South Africa continued to sputter in the final third. Moussa Moudou fired far off target from a good opportunity in the 56th minute and then it appeared that the Menas were failed by VAR.

In the 73rd minute, Abdoul-Latif Goumey received a throw-in and cleverly turned past Malibongwe Khoza, who appeared to foul Goumey in the box but Karboubi and the VAR crew did not even judge the incident worth a second look for the head referee.

Scoreless at the full time whistle, now South Africa will now likely need to defeat co-hosts Uganda on Monday. In a tight race for the top two places and advancement to the quarterfinals, Bafana will be eliminated with a draw or defeat if Algeria defeat now eliminated Niger in Monday’s other Group C game.

Group C Table

1. Uganda- 6 points (3 games played)
2. Algeria- 5 points (3 games)
3. South Africa- 5 points (3 games)
4. Guinea- 4 points (4 games)
5. Niger- 1 point (3 games)

NOTE: Algeria have a superior goal difference (+3) to South Africa (+1).