Jamie Webber scored a stunning goal to equalize for South Africa against Egypt in the first round of the African Nations Championship (CHAN) qualifier at Free State Stadium on Sunday night.
Egypt took the lead in the 66th minute with a goal from Mohamed Hassan Hashem Abdelaal, stunning the home crowd. However, Webber leveled the match in the 80th minute, beating Egyptian goalkeeper Mahmoud Mohamed Kassem.
Coach Molefi Ntseki expressed satisfaction with the team’s performance despite not securing a win. “A solid structure is essential as it helps players understand their roles and responsibilities,” he noted.
Ntseki acknowledged the challenge ahead, especially with a second leg to play in Egypt. Egypt’s coach Wael Reyad mentioned that many players were absent due to passport issues and recognized the match’s difficulty for his team.
Ntseki’s squad will return to Johannesburg on Monday and remain in camp until they travel to Egypt on March 6, 2025. The winner of this matchup will progress to the next round of the CHAN qualifiers in May 2025.
