Mali defeated South Africa in the opener of the Africa U20 Championship

Mali got off to a good start at the Africa Youth Championship (AYC) when beating hosts South Africa 4-2 in the opening game of the tournament on Sunday.

France-based striker Abdoulaye Coulibaly scored twice to help the Young Eagles to the Group A victory in Johannesburg.

Mali passed the ball with much more purpose than their opponents and deservedly took the lead on 12 minutes thanks to Cheick Mohamed Cherif Doumbia's trademark thunderbolt.

The Libya-based midfielder picked his spot from 30 yards and let fly from the distance which left South Africa goalkeeper Tawfeeq Salie sprawling.

The goal resulted in a response from Amajita who equalised in the 20th minute with Lucky Nguzana scoring from a very tight angle.

But Mali restored their lead two minutes later through a swift counter-attack as Coulibaly powered in a shot from the edge of the box.

The Paris St. Germain attacker scored his second after rounding Salie through another counter-attack after the South African defence lost concentration.

The South Africa goalkeeper failed to gather a hopeful free-kick in the 67th minute and Ibrahim Diallo pounced to make it 4-1.

But the home side fought back and restored some hope when Nguzana connected Jabulani Ncubeni's cross with a volley that beat goalkeeper Cheick Sy.

Meanwhile, Egypt defeated Lesotho 2-0 in the other Group A game in Johannesburg on Sunday.

The Young Pharaohs took the lead in just after the break with a strike from Ahmed Hegazi.

The north Africans sealed the win after Mohamed Ghaly converted a 63rd minute penalty.

Mali will be hoping to beat Egypt in their next game on Wednesday to keep alive their hopes of reaching the last four.

South Africa will revive their chances if they win their next group game with Lesotho in Wednesday's other game.

The four semi-finalists of the tournament will qualify for the Under-20 World Cup takes place in Colombia in July and August this year.

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