SAFA
The South African U-23 Olympic football team lost 1-0 to hosts Japan in their opening match of Tokyo 2020 on Thursday.
The match was played at Tokyo Stadium in sweltering heat.
A 71st minute goal by Real Madrid forward Takefusa Kubo gave the hosts the three points after South Africa had stoically defended for most of the game.
Captain Tercious Malepe and Luke Fleurs played a sterling role in ensuring that the match remained goalless in the first half while goalkeeper Ronwen Williams also had a brilliant match and kept South Africa in the game until that brilliant goal by Kubo.
South African will face France, who lost their opener 4-1 to Mexico, in their second Group A match of the Olympic Games on the 25th of July.
