South Africa lifted the CAF U-20 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) for the very first time back in May, with Gomolemo Kekana’s stunning goal seeing off Morocco in the Cairo showpiece.
That victory booked Raymond Mdaka’s charges a spot at the FIFA U-20 World Cup Chile 2025™, their first tournament berth since 2019 and just their fifth overall.
South Africa Group E fixtures
29 September
France-South Africa (17:00 local time, Estadio El Teniente)
2 October
South Africa-New Caledonia (20:00 local time, Estadio El Teniente)
5 October
South Africa-USA (17:00 local time, Estadio El Teniente)
The coach: Raymond Mdaka
Mdaka has been part of the South African Football Association (SAFA) for more than two decades but only stepped into the U-20 coach role in March 2024. Later that year, his new team breezed to the COSAFA Challenge Cup title – a tournament between southern African nations – by scoring 16 goals and conceding zero in five matches.
This year’s AFCON triumph was another elite display of the team’s efficiency. Despite defeat to Egypt in their opener, seven points from nine thereafter took Amajita through as group winners. A hat-trick of 1-0 wins in the knockouts secured Mdaka’s team the title, as his rock-solid 4-2-3-1 shape gave them defensive steel and a clinical attacking edge. Shortly after that historic success, South Africa went back-to-back in the Challenge Cup thanks to a 3-0 final win over Malawi.
Star player: Tylon Smith
Few players had a bigger impact on South Africa’s charge to continental glory than centre-back Smith. He played every minute in Egypt and netted the winning goal against Nigeria in the semi-final with a brave back-post header. Those performances saw him named Player of the Tournament, the first time a defender had scooped that accolade since 2019.
Interest quickly built around the 20-year-old with Championship side Queens Park Rangers acquiring him from hometown club Stellenbosch. Strong, quick, composed on the ball and possessing a good defensive nous, Smith has impressed during his early days in West London and made his senior debut in August 2025 when he played the full 90 in their EFL Cup defeat to Plymouth.
One to watch: Kutlwano Letlhaku
While Mdaka is blessed with a number of exciting attacking options, Letlhaku – who has already played more than 20 senior games for club side Mamelodi Sundowns – is perhaps chief among them.
While pacy, the winger is far from just a speed demon. He’s comfortable on the ball and possesses excellent close control as well as an eye for goal. While he played just nine minutes at the FIFA Club World Cup 2025™, he left his mark on proceedings with an inch-perfect assist for Lebo Mothiba in Sundowns’ defeat to Borussia Dortmund.
