Former South Africa star Philemon 'Chippa' Masinga died Sunday aged 49 in a Johannesburg hospital from cancer, the national football association said in a statement. "We have lost a giant of South African football," said football association president Danny Jordaan. "This is a sad day and I am gutted.

"I saw him last Sunday before I flew to Dakar (for Confederation of African Football activities) and although Phil was not feeling well, he was in good spirits. "Before saying goodbye, I promised 'Chippa' that I would visit him again sometime this week and now our hero is gone."

A physically formidable forward, he scored the goal that beat Congo Brazzaville 1-0 in Soweto and took Bafana Bafana (The Boys) to the 1998 World Cup in France.

Copyright Agence France-Presse, 2019