Things are getting difficult for African representatives at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics after further points were dropped.
Cote d’Ivoire, Egypt and South Africa on Sunday morning played their second matches in the competition with mixed results.
The CIV held highly rated Brasil to a goalless draw in what was a highly tensed game that saw both teams reduced to ten men each following red cards in either half.
Sunday result means the Ivory Coast move up to four points from a possible six after a win and draw, joint top with their Brasilian counterparts who have a similar record.
For Egypt, things are not as rosy for them, after the young Pharaohs couldn’t repeat their heroics against Spain as they lost narrowly to Argentina.
Facundo Medina scored the decisive goal in the second half to give Argentina all three points in the game, leaving the Pharoahs with more questions than answers.
Their final game is against Australia and the young Pharoahs are now condemned to win if they are to keep their Olympics hopes alive.
Meanwhile, of the trio, only South Africa appears to be on the brink of elimination after back to back defeats in group A.
Their latest defeat came against an Andre-Pirerre Gignac-inspired France, who scored two late goals to break the hearts of impressive South Africans in a thrilling 7-goal thriller.
With just four minutes left on the clock, South Africa led 3-2 thanks to goals from Kobamelo Kodisang, Evidence Makgopa and Teboho Mokoena, with both Argentine goals scored by Gignac.
However, a late capitulation from the rainbow nation allowed the South Americans to snatch the win and three points in dramatic fashion.
Gignac completed his hattrick when he equalised to make it 3-3 on 86 minutes from the spot, before he turned provider in added time to set up Teji Savanier for the dramatic winner.