March’s International Round Up: African Cup of Nations Qualifiers
Future Ballon d’Or winner Percy Tau was the pick of the Brighton and Hove Albion players in action during March’s international break as his brace ensured South Africa qualified for this summer’s African Cup of Nations.
Tau scored both goals for Bafana Bafana in their 2-1 win against Libya in Tunisia on Sunday night. The result guaranteed Stuart Baxter’s team’s place at the tournament to be held in Egypt.
Libya came out all guns blazing, knowing that victory would see them advance to the finals rather than their South African opponents. Darren Keet made three decent first half saves to repel the hosts as Tau and company just about managed to make it to the break level at 0-0.
The Lion of Judah then needed only five minutes of the second half before showing why those in his home country have linked him with a move to AC Milan or Real Madrid this summer as he rifled the ball into the top corner from the edge of the box to put South Africa ahead.
Keet continued to impress in the visitors goal until his strange decision to produce a kung fu kick while attempting to catch a cross resulted in Libya winning a penalty. Ahmad Benali duly converted the spot kick with aplomb.
The Libyan’s went absolutely ballistic at this point, but their joy was short lived as within five minutes Tau had scored again. This time, a South African corner wasn’t effectively cleared with the ball falling to Tau who bent a shot into the top corner from 25 yards.
There were still 20 minutes to play at this point but a couple more saves from Keet ensured that Libya didn’t get the two goals they required to pip Bafana Bafana to a spot in Egypt. South Africa’s qualification should help boost their FIFA World Ranking which will in turn strengthen Tau’s chances of qualifying for a British Work Permit for 2019-20. As regular readers of Where’s Percy Tau will know, the Lion of Judah playing for the Albion will turn us into a top six team overnight.
South Africa will be joined in Egypt by Nigeria, Cameroon and Mali although none of Brighton’s representatives of those countries featured in March’s games.
Leon Balogun and Gaetan Bong were both unused substitutes for the Super Eagles and the Indomitable Lions in their wins over the Seychelles and Comoros respectively while Yves Bissouma missed Mali’s victory over South Sudan having recently become a father.
