Audio By Carbonatix
Andre-Pierre Gignac scored a second-half hat-trick as France came from behind three times to beat South Africa 4-3 and keep their Olympic hopes alive.
Having lost their Group A opener, France looked to be heading out until former Marseille striker Gignac completed his treble from the penalty spot to level for a third time on 85 minutes, before Teji Savanier grabbed an injury-time winner.
Gignac, who currently plays for Tigres in Mexico, is now top scorer in Tokyo with four goals from two matches.
South Africa, whose hopes of qualifying have now been ended, led three times through second-half goals from Kobamelo Kodisang, Evidence Makgopa and Teboho Mokoena.
Hosts Japan made it two wins from two later on Sunday, beating Mexico 2-1.
Brazil held & Argentina have fresh hope
Defending champions Brazil were held to a goalless draw by Ivory Coast in Group D, after Aston Villa midfielder Douglas Luiz was sent off for a trip on former Leeds winger Max Gradel on just 13 minutes.
Luiz was initially booked, but the yellow card was upgraded to red by VAR, after he was deemed to deny a goalscoring opportunity.
Ivory Coast, who won their opener against Saudi Arabia, also had a player dismissed late on as Eboue Kouassi received a second yellow card.
Brazil, captained by former Barcelona defender Dani Alves, still top the group after thrashing Germany in their opening match.
Elsewhere, Facundo Medina gave Argentina their first win of the Games with a 1-0 victory over Egypt, while also in Group B, Mikel Oyarzabal's late strike saw Spain beat Australia to open their account.
Burnley striker Chris Wood was on target in New Zealand's 3-2 loss to Honduras and, in the same group, South Korea thrashed Romania 4-0, leaving all the teams on three points after two matches.
Latest Stories
-
Ghana to host 2026 Africa Aquatics Championships in May
8 minutes -
IGP and Management Board tour police recruitment centres in Greater Accra to assess process
9 minutes -
BoG pushes back on IMF claims, says FX reforms are fixing not creating problems
14 minutes -
Stability came at a cost – BoG defends billions lost in Domestic Gold Purchase Programme
18 minutes -
Ofori-Atta’s lawyer slams AG over public disclosure of ‘inconclusive’ offshore probe
24 minutes -
Borderless Africa petition surpasses 10K signatures, campaign intensifies
55 minutes -
QNET Ghana hosts New Year media soirée, unveils plans for bigger V-Africa event
1 hour -
Lom Nuku Writes : What the US$1.47 billion energy debt payment really means for Ghana
1 hour -
GTEC approves University of Ghana fees for 2025/2026, maintains facility user fee
1 hour -
BoG Governor backs Gold-for-Oil cancellation
1 hour -
“We have listened”- Abeiku Aggrey responds to concerns over foreign artistes at state events
1 hour -
Ghana Olympic Committee launches four-year strategic plan
1 hour -
One dead, several injured in head-on crash at Ejisu
1 hour -
BoG orders external audit into Gold for Oil Programme after GH¢2.2bn losses
1 hour -
Lands Ministry inaugurates timber monitoring team to combat illegal logging
1 hour
