Guinea clinched bronze at the 2017 U20 Africa Cup of Nations with a 2-1 win over South Africa at the National Heroes Stadium in Lusaka on Sunday.

Liam Jordan scored for Amajita but an own goal from defender Katlego Mohamme and a penalty kick by Naby Bangoura ensured that Guinea became the third best team at the U20 Afcon, relegating South Africa to fourth.

It was Amajita who found their footing first in the match and should have taken the lead as early as the second minute when Sipho Mbule found Itumeng Shopane inside the box with an immaculate through ball, but the Kaizer Chiefs forward opted for a cross instead of shooting at goal.

A minute later, Kobamelo Kodisang turned a defender inside out and made a daunting run into the Guinea box using Shopane as his decoy, but his grass-cutter was denied by keeper Moussa Camara.

Amajita continued to pile the pressure on Guinea and it eventually paid off in the fifth minute when Jordan latched on to a through ball from Wiseman Meyiwa to give SA the lead.

However, the lead only lasted for two minutes as a dreadful mistake saw Katlego Mohamme beat his own keeper Sanele Tshabalala for Guinea’s equaliser.

Guinea had a chance to double their lead before the break when Daouda Camara broke loose on the left wing and as he lined the ball up for a shot Siyabonga Ngezana stole the ball to clear the danger in the 22nd minute.

Some jittery defending from Amajita saw the ball fall in the path of Morlaye Sylla on the edge of the box, and the Guinea number 10 watched in agony as his shot found row number 10 on the stands in the 28th minute.

Kodisang skinned a defender inside the box but his powerful low shot was parried back into play by goalkeeper Camara, and Jordan arrived late for the rebound as Guinea managed to clear the danger.

The tempo of the game slowed down in the second half and both teams started committing fouls, a sign that legs were tiring.

Amajita coach Thabo Senong pulled out Shopane and brought on the team’s top scorer Luther Singh in the 53rd minute as he looked to exploit the spaces behind the Guinea defence with an injection of pace and skill.

The first yellow card of the match was given to Guinea skipper Aly Camara for a rough challenge on Jordan in the 55th minute, and a minute later Grant Margeman also received a booking for a cynical challenge.

The crowd was in a frenzy in the 60th minute as their favourite player Sibongakonke Mbata came on for the tired Kodisang, who did a great deal of running in the first half

A poor back-pass from deep in midfield by Margeman almost cost Amajita the game, but Mohamed Coumbassa in his attempt to take advantage of the error collided with keeper Sanele Tshabalala in 63rd minute.

It was sweat and tears in the 72nd minute as Aghmat Ceres was a victim of a rough challenge and had to make way for for Thendo Mukumela, who was immediately called upon to rescue the team after Tshabalala punched the ball back into play.

A handball from Malepe inside the box resulted in a penalty for Guinea, and Naby Bangoura put it away to seal a bronze medal finish in the 85th minute.