South Africa's Under-20 team, Amajita, made history by winning the TotalEnergies U20 AFCON for the first time, defeating Morocco 1-0 in a stellar performance.
This victory marks another significant milestone in the ascendancy of South African football on the continent.
Afrik-Foot looks at five things learned
- South Africa's football ascendancy: A growing force across the continent
South African football is demonstrating a significant rise in influence across the African continent, with strong performances and historic achievements being recorded across various levels of the game. Recent successes by both national teams and clubs highlight a potential shift in the landscape of African football.
Amajita winning the AFCON follow in the steps of Banyana Banyana, who also won the WAFCON in 2023. Meanwhile, Bafana Bafana secured the third place finish at AFCON last year.
- Depth a key asset for Amajita on international stage
Amajita faced a number of challenges leading up to the tournament, with several key players unable to join the squad due to club commitments.
Notably, Mbekezeli Mbokazi was unavailable as he was a regular for Orlando Pirates, who were competing in the CAF Champions League, Nedbank Cup, and Betway Premiership.
Despite these absences, the team's impressive depth shone through, allowing them to overcome these hurdles and ultimately lift the trophy. While Mbokazi missed out on a gold medal, Amajita's success underscores the growing pool of talent in South African youth football.
- Under-20 FIFA World Cup qualification
Amajita's journey to the AFCON title also secured their spot in the U20 FIFA World Cup, set to be held in Chile in September 2025.
They clinched their qualification by reaching the semifinals, courtesy of a thrilling extra-time winner against DR Congo by Thabang Mahlangu. This qualification marks another significant achievement for South African youth football on the international stage after under 17 also qualified for World Cup to be held in Qatar in November.
- SA don’t have to worry about Ronwen Williams’ replacement
The tournament also brought to light a potential successor for Bafana Bafana captain Ronwen Williams.
Fletcher Lowe delivered heroic performances throughout the U20 AFCON, earning him the TotalEnergies Man of the Match award in the final against Morocco and the prestigious Golden Glove award for his impressive displays. His emergence suggests that South Africa has a bright future in the goalkeeping department.
- Raymond Mdaka’s experience proved valuable to Amajita
Amajita's U20 AFCON glory was expertly guided by coach Raymond Mdaka. His valuable experience, which includes previously serving as interim coach for Marumo Gallants when they reached the CAF Confederations Cup semifinals, undoubtedly played a crucial role in Amajita's success.
His leadership and tactical prowess were instrumental in navigating the team through the tournament to their historic victory.
