South Africa’s U20 side, Amajita, has reached the FIFA World Cup Last 16 for only the second time in history. The team has progressed to the knockout phase in the ongoing tournament in Chile, under the tutelage of Raymond Mdaka, emulating the team of 2009 that reached the same stage in Egypt. The African champions will face Colombia on Friday evening in Talca, for a place in the Quarterfinals, where they would meet Ukraine or Spain. “I think, honestly, the…

The African continent will be represented by three nations, including South Africa, in the Round of 16 of the ongoing FIFA U20 World Cup in Chile. Following the conclusion of the group stages on Sunday, SA was joined by Morocco and Nigeria, who also sealed qualification from their respective groups. Amajita, guided by Raymond Mdaka, overcame the United States by a 2-1 scoreline in a Group E encounter played at the El Teniente Stadium on Sunday evening. The USA drew…

On paper, South Africa’s U20 football team had an easy outing against New Caledonia in the ongoing FIFA U20 World Cup. The 5-0 scoreline in favour of Raymond Mdaka’s boys is flattering, but the head coach has explained why he is not a happy man. “It was quite a challenging game because we needed to win at all costs, and we needed goals as well,” said Mdaka after the Group E encounter at the Estadio El Teniente, Chile, in the…

The South African Football Association (SAFA) held a send-off celebration for the SA U20 Men’s National Team in Johannesburg on Monday night. The gathering was to honour the youth team for recent achievements, including being crowned the 2025 COSAFA U20 winners, lifting the CAF U20 Men’s Africa Cup of Nations trophy and also qualifying for the FIFA U20 Men’s World Cup in Chile, South America, in the process. The event was attended by, among others, the Amajita squad, Minister of…

The South African Football Association (SAFA) has opened up and given reasons why certain key players are not part of the squad for the FIFA U20 World Cup. Questions were raised why Orlando Pirates defender Mbekezeli Mbokazi was omitted from the team. “Mbekezeli Mbokazi was not considered as part of an agreement between (Amajita coach) Raymond Mdaka and his Bafana Bafana counterpart, Hugo Broos. The defender will be part of the Bafana Bafana squad that will play two crucial 2026…

The South African U20 squad heading to the FIFA U20 World Cup has been announced. Coach Raymond Mdaka has named a 21-member team, with notable absentees being Mbekezeli Mbokazi of Orlando Pirates and Shandre Campbell, who turns out for Club Brugge in Belgium. The reigning African champions have been drawn in Group E alongside France, the USA and New Caledonia. The tournament will be held in Chile from 27 September to 19 October 2025. FULL SQUAD;

South Africa U20 head coach Raymond Mdaka has announced the preliminary squad for the World Cup. The African champions will be heading to Chile as one of the representatives of the continent. The tournament will run from 27 September to 20 October. South Africa are in Group E and will play France (29 September), New Caledonia (3 October), and the USA (5 October). Twenty-four teams will participate, with the top two from each group progressing to the Last 16 and…

South Africa, Morocco, Nigeria and Egypt have discovered their group stage opponents for the FIFA U20 World Cup 2025. The draw was conducted in the early hours of Friday morning in Chile’s capital, Santiago. The South American country will host the tournament from 27 September – 19 October across four cities; Rancagua, Santiago, Talca and Valparaiso. The reigning African champions, Amajita, have been drawn in Group E, alongside France, USA and New Caledonia. Group C is arguably the group of…

South Africa’s fairytale run in the CAF U20 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) has culminated in the team bringing the trophy home. Amajita’s maiden title was achieved through a 1-0 victory over Morocco at the Cairo International Stadium, Egypt, on Sunday. Midfielder Gomolemo Kekana netted the all-important goal in the second stanza. The win is sweet revenge over the North Africans, coming 28 years after Amajita suffered a final defeat to the same opponents in 1997. Raymond Mdaka’s boys were…

South Africa’s U20 team Amajita has qualified for the FIFA World Cup in Chile later this year, joining African counterparts Morocco, Nigeria and Egypt at the global tournament. The South American nation will host the competition from 27 September to 19 October 2025. This marks Amajita’s fifth World Cup appearance, having previously participated in 1997, 2009, 2017 and 2019. Coach Raymond Mdaka’s side secured qualification after defeating DR Congo 1-0 on Monday to reach the semi-finals of the ongoing TotalEnergies…