Latest news with #ShakesMashaba
The Herald
19-05-2025
- Sport
- The Herald
Mdaka credits PSL's Diski reserve league for Amajita's Afcon success
'Together we are stronger. It is nice to do my part but the real plaudits go to everyone, even the people behind the scenes; physios, doctors, fitness coaches and the players too. 'It's amazing what we've been able to do.' Amajita's first success in the U-20 Afcon came in their second final appearance, the first when coach Shakes Mashaba's generation of Benni McCarthy, Matthew Booth, Junaid Hartley and Stanton Fredericks lost 1-0 to hosts Morocco in the 1997 last game, 28 years ago. South Africa sealed their ticket to the U-20 World Cup, to be staged in Chile from September 27 to October 19, by reaching the semifinals. SowetanLIVE
TimesLIVE
18-05-2025
- Sport
- TimesLIVE
Amajita are the U-20 kings of Africa, beating Morocco in the final
South Africa are the kings of Africa at Under-20 level, Amajita heroically overcoming tough Morocco 1-0 in Sunday night's U-20 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) final at Cairo International Stadium. It was South Africa's first success in the tournament in just their second final appearance, the first coming when coach Shakes Mashaba's generation of Benni McCarthy, Matthew Booth, Junaid Hartley and Stanton Fredericks lost 1-0 to hosts Morocco in the 1997 last game. Eighteen-year-old Mamelodi Sundowns reserve midfield prospect and TS Galaxy youth product Gomolemo Kekana scored a superb winner in the 70th minute, video assistant referee allowing the goal after it was initially overruled. As has been a trend for South Africa at the Afcon — where they topped Group A and saw off Democratic Republic of Congo in extra time and Nigeria in the last 16 and quarters, also 1-0 — they held their own in the first half, though with difficulty against a tough Morocco. They grew in strength in the second 45 minutes.
The Herald
16-05-2025
- Sport
- The Herald
Amajita stun Nigeria — and reach their first U-20 Afcon final in 28 years
Amajita weathered a first-half storm, bravely regrouped and produced a second-half winner against the direction of play of the semifinal to stun Nigeria 1-0 and reach their second Under-20 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) final. Tylon Smith's 66th-minute headed goal at Suez Canal Stadium in Ismailia earned coach Raymond Mdaka's team the glory of a place in Sunday's final (8pm SA time), where they will meet either hosts Egypt or Morocco, who were playing in the later semifinal in Cairo (8pm SA time). This makes for the best performance by South Africa in the tournament since the under-20 team coached by Shakes Mashaba that contained stars like Benni McCarthy, Matthew Booth, Junaid Hartley and Stanton Fredericks. They lost 1-0 to hosts Morocco in the 1997 final. Amajita were fortunate to not go to the break a goal down after a first half where they at times had to desperately defend, the South Africans battling with Nigeria's physical presence and movement in attack.
