Blantyre — South Africa have booked one of the last two places to the Under-20 African Nations Cup finals after a shock 4-2 win over Malawi in Blantyre to complete the eight-team line-up in Ethiopia.

Malawi had drawn the first-leg encounter 3-3 and were set to knock out the South Africans in the return match. It was the second successive meeting between the two sides at this stage of the Under-20 qualifiers, after Malawi triumphed over the South Africans to reach the finals for the first time in Ghana last year.

But South Africa travelled to Blantyre over the weekend with the aim of avenging the 5-1 aggregate defeat to Malawi in the 1999 qualifiers.

South Africa stepped up the tempo and in the space of 10 minutes Malawi goalkeeper Don Pahuwa had to make two desperate saves. He blocked a close range shot from Vilukazi Benedict and striker Lesley Manyathela.

Essau Kanyenda, however, put the home side in front with a header after 31 minutes scoring the rebound off South Africa goal keeper, Bernard Jason, who failed to stop a long range shot from Amos Jere.

Malawi's lead was cancelled four minutes later as South Africa equalised with a glancing header by striker Gareth Devine after Benedict had sent in a well-placed cross in the box.

South Africa went on to take the lead through Steven Pienar, who added the second goal in the 41st minute, driving the ball from the edge of the penalty box after a good work from Manyathela.

Nine minutes after the interval, Manyathela scored the third for South Africa, following a defensive lapse by the Malawi defence. And Devine scored the fourth goal to put the game beyond the reach of the hosts with a bicycle kick after 62 minutes.

Malawi managed to reduce the deficit two minutes later when Patrick Mangani converted a spot kick after a South African defender handled the ball in the box, following a block shot from captain, Peter Mponda.

South Africa will join title holders, Ghana, Cameroon, Mali, Egypt, Nigeria and hosts Ethiopia in the finals from March 18 to April 1 next year.

The last place in the finals will be decided next month between Angola and Burkina Faso. The match was postponed after the Burkinabe side failed to show up in Luanda for the first leg in October due to travelling difficulties.