Tokyo Olympics beckon for South Africa’s under-23 squad

The Olympic Games in the Japanese capital of Tokyo beckon for South Africa’s under-23 soccer squad.

But first head coach David Notoane’s men have to prevail in Group B of the African qualifiers headed for the under-23 Africa Cup of Nations, scheduled for the Egyptian capital of Cairo from
Friday 8 November to Friday 22 November.

The South Africans are in Group B with big soccer nations Ivory Coast, Nigeria and Zambia.

Hosts Egypt are in Group A with likewise formidable Cameroon, Ghana and Mali.

The Mali senior squad is presently in South Africa for the Mandela Challenge fixture against Bafana Bafana at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in the Eastern Cape on Sunday 13 October.

The three top finishers of the under-23 showdown qualify for the Tokyo Olympics next year.

The Tokyo Olympics host city was expected to welcome a total of 11 092 sportsmen.

The multi-sport event was scheduled to start on Friday 24 July up until Sunday 9 August.

— The BEAT