Kaizer Chiefs and Mamelodi Sundowns starlets unlucky as South Africa start Afcon campaign with narrow defeat to Egypt

Amajita started the U20 African Cup of Nations (Afcon) campaign with a 1-0 loss to Egypt at Cairo International Stadium on Sunday.

Al Ahly star Mohamed Abdalla scored in the 62nd minute to hand the hosts a winning start and three points.

Meanwhile, Fletcher Smythe-Lowe was called to action in the sixth minute when the Pharaohs threatened to score, but the goalkeeper made a save to keep the scoreline goalless.

Amajita almost broke the deadlock in the 10th minute when Kaizer Chiefs star Mfundo Vilakazi attempted a long-range shot that hit the post. Raymond Mdaka's charges kept on fighting, and Mamelodi Sundowns winger Kutlwano Letlhaku, as well as Cape Town City's Jody Ah Shen,e were unlucky, as their chances bore no positive outcome.

Mdaka made a change in the 59th minute when Sundowns star Asekho Tiwani got injured and Gopolang Taunyana of Chiefs replaced the captain.

Despite showing determination, South Africa were stunned in the 62nd minute when Abdallah, named Man of the Match, found the back of the net after a counterattack.

Determined to restore parity, Amajita pressed the Egyptians but were unlucky again when they were denied by the post in the 67th minute.

Egypt managed to hold tight to the slim win to start their campaign on home soil on a positive note.

South Africa will rightly feel unlucky given that they were the dominant side, yet lost the game. Amajita enjoyed a 62% ball possession compared to Egypt's 38%.

The South Africans were superior when it came to total shots, as they registered 19 compared to Egypt's 12. Amajita's shots on target were four, while the Pharaohs only had three.

Meanwhile, Egypt lead Group A with three points, while Zambia and Sierra Leone each have a point after their match ended in a 0-0 draw.

South Africa will be back in action on May 30 in search of a win when they will tackle Tanzania.

Egypt will face Sierra Leone on the same day.