Egypt U-20 and Al Ahly winger: South Africa played a very good game

Photo credit: Egyptian Football Association.

Egypt kicked off their U-20 Africa Cup of Nations campaign with a narrow 1-0 victory over South Africa.

The decisive goal came in the 62nd minute when Al Ahly winger Mohamed Abdallah found the net with a precise finish, sealing three important points for the hosts. After the match, Abdallah expressed his gratitude towards his teammates and coaching staff, dedicating his Man of the Match award to his mother.

"This is a great blessing from God. I thank my teammates and the coaching staff for their help over the past days, and I dedicate this award (man of the match) to my mother," he said.

Speaking about the opposition, Abdallah praised South Africa’s performance, adding: "South Africa played a very good game. They are a very respectable team."

In the other Group A fixture, Sierra Leone and Zambia played out a goalless draw, with each side getting a point.

Group A Standings after Matchday 1:

1- Egypt – 3 points

2- Sierra Leone – 1 point

3- Zambia – 1 point

4- Tanzania – 0 points

5- South Africa – 0 points