With both sides entering the fixture knowing a result could determine their tournament fate, Vela Khumalo's charges began with a high tempo, looking to assert early dominance.

Ime Okon and Aiden McCarthy both came close from set-pieces, but SA lacked the finishing touch in a cagey first half that ended 0-0.

Mauritius, who had not conceded a single goal in the group stage prior to this encounter, stuck to their defensive discipline, maintaining a compact structure that frustrated the South Africans throughout.

Their best chance came in the second half when Cooper Legrand narrowly missed from inside the six yard box, arguably the closest either side came to breaking the deadlock.

In a bid to avoid a second successive group-stage exit, Khumalo introduced fresh legs in the second half in search of a breakthrough. However, Mauritius remained unyielding, ensuring the spoils were shared at full time.

Fortunately for SA, elsewhere in the group Zimbabwe defeated Mozambique - a result that ultimately secured Bafana Bafana B's passage to the final four.

While the draw extended Mauritius' impressive defensive record, they bow out of the competition unbeaten but unable to progress. 

--SABC--