Eliot Mahlase
The South African u.23 football team qualified for the 2016 Rio Olympics on Saturday, after defeating Senegal 3-1 on penalties in the u.23 African cup of nations.
The game had ended 0-0 in regular time.
Ajax Cape Town stopper, Jody February, was the hero of the day saving three penalties.
The team, known as Amaglug glug, finished on six points second behind group winner Senegal. They faced Algeria in the semis and lost 2-0 so they found themselves needing a win from the crucial playoff game.
Despite failing to reach the finals, South Africa had a second bite at the cherry when they faced the ‘Taranga Lions’ in a third/fourth place playoff.
Only three African teams could qualify for the Olympics, and Owen Da Gama’s men made use of the opportunity and finished third behind Nigeria and Algeria.
The last time the men’s u.23 side played at the Olympics was in 2000.
The team joins Banyana Banyana, who a month ago, booked their spot in Rio de Janeiro.
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