Amajita will qualify for the Fifa Under-20 World Cup if they beat DR Congo in the Caf U20 Africa Cup of Nations quarterfinal clash on Monday afternoon.
A victory against the DRC will secure a spot in the Afcon U20 semifinal and an automatic qualification for the 2025 edition of the global showpiece in Chile from September 27 to October 19.
Raymond Mdaka’s team reached the last eight on Friday night after a 1-1 draw against Zambia at the 30 June Stadium in Cairo, which saw them finish top of Group A to set up tomorrow’s meeting against the Congolese, who finished third in Group C.
Amajita won the group on goal difference following earlier victories against Tanzania (1-0) and Sierra Leone (4-1), after they’d lost their opening match 1-0 to Egypt. Egypt and Sierra Leone are also in the last 8, and will face Ghana and Morocco, respectively, tomorrow. Nigeria will clash with Senegal in the other quarterfinals.
Chiefs and Mamelodi Sundowns youngsters Mfundo Vilakazi and Kutlwano Letlhaku combined brilliantly in the latter part of the game to put Amajita ahead in the eighth minute, but Bonephanseo Phiri equalised for Zambia four minutes later.
Five players — Letlhaku, Shakeel April, Jody-Lee Ahshene, Neo Rapoo and Thabang Mahlangu (two) — have scored South Africa’s six goals so far in the tournament. This bodes well for their clash against DRC, who went through despite their 2-0 loss to Senegal, as one of the two best third-placed teams in the three groups.
DRC opened the tournament with a 1-1 draw against Ghana, before registering a crucial 3-1 victory against Central African Republic.
Based on form, Mdaka’s team will start as favourites tomorrow. A victory would set up a mouthwatering semifinal clash against Morocco, who denied South Africa gold in the U20 African Youth Championship in 1997.
Amajita are benefitting through some good development structures in PSL clubs that include Chiefs, Sundowns, Cape Town City, Stellenbosch FC, Cape Town Spurs and SuperSport United.
Despite not having four of his key players in Orlando Pirates’ Mbekezeli Mbokazi, Club Brugge’s Shandre Campbell, Sundowns’ duo of Siyabonga Mabena and skipper Asekho Tiwani, Mdaka has managed to put together a strong Amajita side.
“We are a team that does not rely on individuals. That is the reason this team has managed to continue getting good results despite losing all those players who could not join us for this tournament,” Mdaka said.
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.