Latest news with #FifaUnder-20WorldCup
The Citizen
20-05-2025
- Sport
- The Citizen
Broos gives advice to Amajita players after AFCON triumph
'Everything now starts for you,' the Bafana head coach told Amajita's players. Bafana Bafana head coach Hugo Broos has congratulated Amajita for winning the 2025 Under-20 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt. ALSO READ: Amajita down Morocco to clinch first AFCON title Raymond Mdaka's side beat Morocco 1-0 in the final on Sunday at the June 30 stadium in Cairo to win the tournament for the first time ever. Amajita World Cup bound Amajita will also play in the Fifa Under-20 World Cup in Chile from September 27 to October 19. 'Congratulations to coach Raymond for the fantastic job he did in the last two or three weeks,' Broos told a press conference at the OR Tambo International Airport, as Amajita's heroes arrived back in the country. 'I followed nearly every game, and congratulations to you for the motivation you gave the team. I saw when they were playing that they were motivated and wanted to get a big result. 'Congratulations for the tactical moves and the fantastic mentality the team showed on the field. I think you did a great job bringing the trophy to South Africa. 'And also congratulations to the team. Getting to the top is easy but staying there is so much more difficult. Everything now starts for you. 'You are at a crossroads, to take the right direction and I hope we will see you in the next months, next year with Bafana … or maybe abroad. 'It is up to you now. You have an opportunity to have a nice life for the next ten to 12 years as a professional footballer. But you still have to work really hard in the next months. 'You also certainly have to take the right lifestyle. That is very important.' Amajita head coach Raymond Mdaka, meanwhile, reflected on a tournament where his side bounced back brilliantly after losing their opening match to hosts Egypt. 'The first game looked like a loss but we were able to go back, and pick up what to do, and how best to work on our game,' said Mdaka. 'The character to fight' 'We went to the extent of saying sometimes it doesn't work out tactically … but you have to have the character to fight.' ALSO READ: Pirates beat Chiefs to midfield signing Amajita went on to beat Tanzania and Sierra Leone, before drawing with Zambia to finish top of Group A. Mdaka's side then beat DR Congo, Nigeria and Morocco, all with a 1-0 scoreline, to lift the trophy.
IOL News
19-05-2025
- Sport
- IOL News
Amajita conquer Africa! South Africa's youth continue to rise to continental glory
The SA U20 national men's team won the U20 Africa Cup of Nations on Sunday after beating Morocco 1-0 in the final. Photo: Backpagepix Image: Backpagepix The investment that has been made in the growth of South African youth football paid off on the continental stage on Sunday, as the Under-20 men's national team won the Under-20 Africa Cup of Nations. Amajita etched their names into the record books of continental football by winning their first-ever Africa youth championship. En route to the title on Sunday night, Amajita beat Morocco 1–0 at the 30 June Stadium in Cairo, courtesy of a second-half goal by Gomolemo Kekana. That win means Amajita will head to the Fifa Under-20 World Cup in Chile in September as African champions, surpassing the class of 1997 who finished as runners-up. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ South African youth football has been on the rise recently, with the Under-17 men's national team – Amajimbos – also qualifying for the Fifa Under-17 World Cup in Qatar in late November. This upward trajectory comes as the PSL reserve league – the DStv Diski Challenge (DDC) – celebrates 10 years of existence and success. The DDC has been a breeding and nurturing ground for some of the top exports the country has ever produced, including Bafana Bafana's talisman, Percy Tau. In his U20 Afcon squad, coach Raymond Mdaka included players who are either currently playing in the reserve league or have graduated from it. Kekana and Tylon Smith, who scored the title-winning goal and won the Player of the Tournament award respectively, are on the books of Mamelodi Sundowns and Stellenbosch reserve teams, respectively. Mfundo Vilakazi, Neo Rapoo and Kutlwano Letlhaku are notable DDC graduates now playing for their respective senior teams. Speaking at his post-match press conference after the final, Mdaka heaped praise on the impact of the DDC on South African football, addressing the media including SABC Sport. 'Back home, we used to have interviews and we said the number of players that we see are playing in the DDC,' Mdaka said. 'Most of them were promoted to their senior teams after our games in Mozambique, which says a lot about the youth – we seem to be getting there as a team. 'That's the foundation of the senior national team. The U17 national team has also qualified for the World Cup.' South Africa lift the #TotalEnergiesAFCONU20 trophy for the first time ever 🇿🇦🏆 — SuperSport Football ⚽️ (@SSFootball) May 18, 2025 Mdaka noted that the DDC has made scouting easier for him and his technical team, as the league hosts festivals across the country that are often broadcast. 'So again, we need to put more focus on development because that's what can take our football somewhere,' Mdaka said. 'We need to salute our DDC because it made it easy for us to be able to see players every weekend, going to different (venues). The country is also big, so if it wasn't for the DDC, we wouldn't see them. It was easier to follow up through the DDC. So, we salute them and say they've done a good job.' Mdaka admitted that they had to be at their best to reach the final and win it, with all their knockout-stage victories coming by narrow margins, including the final. 🏅 𝕄𝔸ℕ 𝕆𝔽 𝕋ℍ𝔼 𝕄𝔸𝕋ℂℍ 🏅 Amajita goalkeeper Fletcher Smythe-Lowe! 𝐒𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐡 𝐀𝐟𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐚 🇿🇦 1⃣➖0⃣ 🇲🇦 𝐌𝐨𝐫𝐨𝐜𝐜𝐨 🚨 LIVE 🥇 Final 📺 SABC 2 📱 #TotalEnergiesAFCONU20 — SABC Sport (@SABC_Sport) May 18, 2025 'We always stick to what we know best, and make sure that we don't concede. Mostly, if you don't concede in a tournament, chances are you get one goal and win the game,' he added. Amajita's ascension wasn't easy, as they lost their opening game to hosts Egypt before finishing top of Group A and defeating DRC, Nigeria and Morocco to win the crown. All three knockout stage wins came via 1–0 scorelines, and Mdaka has lauded his team's defensive prowess. Fletcher Smythe-Lowe kept four clean sheets and provided an assist for Kekana's goal in the final, and was duly crowned Goalkeeper of the Tournament. Speaking to CAF TV after being named Player of the Match following the final, Smythe-Lowe reflected on what the win meant for him. 'It means a lot to not only me but the team. This award goes to the rest of the team. With only me and without them, we'd be nowhere. Together we are stronger,' Smythe-Lowe said.
TimesLIVE
13-05-2025
- Sport
- TimesLIVE
Nigeria have teased U-20 Afcon semi opponents Amajita as ‘junior brothers'
Amajita coach Raymond Mdaka ranks guiding to them to their fifth Fifa Under-20 World Cup as the biggest achievement of his career. He vowed his side will give their all in Thursday's Under-20 Africa Cup of Nations semifinal against Nigeria, though they have already achieved 'the bigger goal' of sealing qualification for the World Cup in Chile in September and October. Mdaka revealed Amajita have shared a hotel with Nigeria, and the banter started between Flying Eagles and the South Africans before they were pitted against each other in the semis. Substitute SuperSport United striker Thabang Mahlangu, 19, scored the winner four minutes into added time of the first half of added time in Monday night's 1-0 quarterfinal win against Democratic Republic of Congo at Suez Canal Stadium in Ismailia, Egypt. Thabang Mahlangu does what he does best ⚽️ ⚽️ ⚽️ His 3rd #TotalEnergiesAFCONU20 goal ✊🏽 South Africa 🇿🇦 vs 🇨🇩 DR Congo — P Management Sports (@PManagementRSA) May 12, 2025 Mdaka glowed with pride afterwards, saying the qualification was the high point of his career. 'I've achieved some special things as a coach — you remember I took Marumo Gallants to the Confederation Cup semifinals [where they lost to Yanga of Tanzania in 2023] and I won the Cosafa Cup with this team [in October],' the coach said. 'But I will regard taking this team to the World Cup as the highest feat of my coaching career. Qualifying a team for the World Cup is the biggest thing in football. 'It wasn't an easy route, especially because we were in a group of five teams, which means we had to play four matches and we passed that test by qualifying for the quarterfinals. And when we got there we knew we were one step away from going to the World Cup, so the boys really gave their all — and here we are today.' Amajita face long-standing rivals to South Africa in football Nigeria in their semifinals at Suez Canal Stadium (5pm SA time). Mdaka the Nigerians, staying at the same hotel in Ismailia, have teased Amajita, calling them 'junior brothers'. 'In all our games we plan to play to win and we will continue with that mentality against Nigeria. Yes, we've achieved the bigger goal but we can't just let Nigeria walk all over us. 'We are staying at the same hotel and already they're saying we're their junior brothers, so you already know it will be a tough game, especially with the rivalry too.' Mdaka surprisingly did not use two of his key players in Kaizer Chiefs' Mfundo Vilakazi and Kutlwano Letlaku of Mamelodi Sundowns against DR Congo. The Amajita coach said the decision was 'just tactical'. Thursday's later semifinal sees hosts Egypt meet Morocco at Cairo's June 30 Stadium (8pm).
IOL News
13-05-2025
- Sport
- IOL News
Mdaka leads Amajita back to the world stage with Afcon heroics
South Africa's Under-20 players celebrate their quarter-final victory over DRC at the CAF Under-20 Africa Cup of Nations tournament in Egypt on Monday night. Image: Backpagepix Raymond Mdaka's tactical nous and calm leadership have guided South Africa's Under-20 national team to a long-awaited return to the global stage. Under the watchful eye of the quietly confident coach, Amajita sealed qualification for the 2025 Fifa Under-20 World Cup with a gritty, extra-time victory over Democratic Republic of Congo in the quarter-finals of the Under-20 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt. In a high-stakes, pressure-filled encounter, Mdaka's side showed composure, resilience, and belief — traits that have defined their campaign and mirrored the personality of their coach. With the win, Amajita not only reached the semi-finals of the continental tournament but also secured a coveted ticket to Chile later this year. And we have also qualified for the U20 World Cup in Chile!!! — (@SAFA_net) May 12, 2025 Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Amajita needed extra time to see off their determined opponents, with Thabang Mahlangu scoring the only goal of the match. It was a typically hard-fought knockout encounter, filled with tension, emotion, and fine margins. DRC had their chances — particularly in the first half — but South Africa stood firm, weathered the storm, and grew into the contest. Mdaka praised his players' resilience and adaptability under pressure. 'We used almost everything that we thought we had — technically, tactically, physically, and the character,' Mdaka said, after the match. 'You could see they had a very good plan for us, but we were fortunate not to concede in the first half. In the second half, we sorted it out, came back stronger, and managed to get a goal and protect it.' SA go in the lead, Mahlangu with the beauty of the goal!!! — (@SAFA_net) May 12, 2025 South Africa's progression to the final four confirms them as one of Africa's four representatives at the U20 World Cup, scheduled for September. This latest milestone adds to a string of positive results for South Africa's national teams in recent months. Safa president Dr Danny Jordaan congratulated the squad on their achievement in Egypt. 'This is another momentous occasion, coming so soon after we qualified for the 2025 African Nations Championship (CHAN) on Sunday, and the Fifa Under-17 World Cup to be held in Qatar from November 3-27,' said Jordaan. Amajita will now turn their attention to a difficult semi-final clash against Nigeria, one of the most successful nations in African youth football. The West African giants will present a different kind of challenge for Mdaka's team — one that will test both their tactical discipline and mental fortitude. Mahlangu's extra-time winner may yet go down as one of the most important goals in recent memory for South Africa's youth structures — and Amajita's journey is far from over.
