Amajita fly SA flag high, qualify for U20 FIFA World Cup

JOHANNESBURG – The South African U20 men’s national team has secured a ticket to the U20 FIFA World Cup.

Amajita beat DR Congo in the quarterfinals of the U20 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) tournament in Egypt to advance to the semifinals.

“We used almost everything that we thought we had, technically, tactically, physically and the character. You could see they had a very good plan for us, but we were fortunate not to concede in the first half and in the second half. We sorted it out and then we at least came back and were able to get a goal and protected the goal” said U20 Coach Raymond Mdaka.

READ: Amajita leave for AFCON without key players

Substitute striker Thabang Mahlangu scored the winner for  Amajitato in extra time to send the South Africans to the Under-20 World Cup in Chile in September 2025.

South African Football Association (SAFA) President Dr Danny Jordaan congratulated the team and said their hard work has been rewarded 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 U17 World Cup to be held in Qatar from 3–27 November 2025,” the SAFA President said.

Amajita will now meet Nigeria in the first semifinal on Thursday, while hosts Egypt meet Morocco later that evening.

Meanwhile, Bafana Bafana have qualified for the African Nations Championship (Chan) for the first time in 12 years after beating Malawi 2-0 at Loftus Stadium on Sunday afternoon.