South Africa U20 are banking on their strong showing at the COSAFA U20 tournament to push them to glory at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.
Raymond Mdaka’s Amajita have some of the most exciting young South African players within their ranks and there is renewed optimism that they will get over the line this time.
It will be the fifth time South Africa will be playing at the continental tournament, with their best result being a semi-final at the 1997 edition, but with a great squad that has a good blend of attacking and defensive talents, there are high hopes in Mdaka’s side.
The AFCON U20 kicks off in Egypt on Sunday April 27 with South Africa in the same group with the hosts, Zambia, Sierra Leone and Tanzania.
Big-name players missing from Amajita squad
Egypt pose the biggest challenge, given they have won the title three times and they will also be playing at home, but Mdaka has the likes of Kutlwano Lethlaku, Jody Ah Shene and Fletcher Smythe-Lowe to call upon.
However, the tactician will have to do without some of his key players with Shandre Campbell, who was responsible for the COSAFA U20 win that earned them AFCON qualification, set to miss the tournament due to club commitments in Belgium, same as Orlando Pirates defender Mbekezeli Mbokazi, who has been denied permission by the Buccaneers.
Mamelodi Sundowns’ Siyabonga Mabena has also been ruled out as he recovers from an injury sustained last year.
“From the group that we started with, we don't have Shandre,” Mdaka told the media at Amajita's training base on Tuesday as quoted by KickOff.
Can Mdaka lead South Africa to AFCON glory?
“The issue of Shandre was said some three weeks back, to say the team is discussing with the manager to say he is in the first team, so it is difficult for them to release the boy.
“Mabena is injured, and he was one of the key players. Mbokazi is also one of the key players, he is one of the players who started everything. We thought we would have him, but unfortunately, we do not have him,” added the disappointed coach.
Mdaka will, however, have Sundowns’ Asekho Tiwani, Kaizer Chiefs’ Mfundo Vilakazi and SuperSport United's Neo Rapoo among the stars in his team.
South Africa will be looking to impress as doing well in the competition also comes with a ticket to the 2025 U20 World Cup that will be played in Chile in October.
