By NDINAWE SIMPELWE at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium –
South Africa 3 Cameroon 1
SOUTH Africa’s Luther Singh lit up the Under 20 Africa Cup of Nations with a hat trick in a convincing 3-1 win against a strong Cameroon side.
While Cameroon had the team, South Africa had the man, Singh, who shot to the summit of the top scorer’s chart.
Cameroon took the lead through a powerful header by Erik Ayuk Mbu.
But before they could end their celebrations, Amajita were back on level terms within a minute through a well taken free kick by Singh.
In the 26th minute Nthuthuko Mbatha’s pace was too much for the Cameroon defense who fouled him in the box resulting in a penalty which Singh slotted with ease to send his side 2-1 up at the break.
Singh, who plays for Sporting Braga in Portugal, completed his hattrick in the 57th minute after rounding the goalkeeper from a counter attack.
Senegal 1 Sudan 1
IN the earlier kickoff, Senegal coach Joseph Koto rued the red card against his captain Mamadou Diarra in a stalemate against Sudan.
Senegal dominated play but a counter attack in the 13th minute left them exposed at the back and when Eid Mugadam was through on goal, he was pulled down by Senegal skipper Mamadou Diarra.
Egyptian referee Nour El Din showed Diarra a straight red card and things got worse for the 2015 finalists five minutes later after another through ball opened up their defense and Mousa Ba fouled Khalid Osman in the box to stop him but ended up giving away a penalty.
Hassan Hassan stepped up and easily converted the spot kick.
Koto made a substitution in the 29th minute introducing Mamadou Mbaye for Aliou Badji as Senegal searched for the equaliser.
Sudan looked tired towards the end of the match and resorted to defending the slender lead which cost them as Niane snatched a dramatic leveller in the 88th minute after Sudan failed to clear the ball.