Siphesihle Mkhize scored twenty minutes from time to rescue a point for South Africa in the opening match of the Total U-20 Africa Cup of Nations against hosts Niger in Niamey.
The host took the lead after 63 minutes through Boubacar Goumey’s fierce strike following a quick break on the right where Abdoul Kairou beat his marker before setting up the lanky forward to send the home crowd into wild celebrations.
Niger took control of proceedings after weathering the Amajita’s early dominance with some neat and quick link up play in attack.
Thabo Senong’s charges had the first real opportunity of the match in the second minute when defender Keenan Abrahams was unmarked in the area but scuffed his shot wide off the goal.
The Amajita’s continued to pile pressure on the home defense through counter attacks and nearly punished them through Ngcobo who dinked the keeper only to be denied by a recovering defender.
Niger’s Issah Abdoulaye forced a brilliant from the South African keeper Glen Baadjies to keep the score level.
Ibrahim Boubacar Marou clipped the South Africa woodwork before break as his side dominated possession heading into the break.
Abdoul Kairou and Mahamadou Amadou were all denied after the break. Kairou had a shot parried away by the Glen Baadjies whiles Amadou saw his goal bound effort from the resulting corner cleared off the line.
Boubacar Goumey broke the deadlock with a brilliant effort from Abdoul Kairou’s clever assist. The forward dribbled his opponent on the left channel to set up his strike partner.
Mkhize replied with a poacher’s goal eight minutes later heading in Ngcobo’s outswing cross past the helpless Khaled Ibrahim to share the spoils.