Mdaka leads Amajita back to the world stage with Afcon heroics

Raymond Mdaka’s tactical nous and calm leadership have guided South Africa’s Under-20 national team to a long-awaited return to the global stage.

Under the watchful eye of the quietly confident coach, Amajita sealed qualification for the 2025 Fifa Under-20 World Cup with a gritty, extra-time victory over Democratic Republic of Congo in the quarter-finals of the Under-20 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt.

In a high-stakes, pressure-filled encounter, Mdaka’s side showed composure, resilience, and belief — traits that have defined their campaign and mirrored the personality of their coach. With the win, Amajita not only reached the semi-finals of the continental tournament but also secured a coveted ticket to Chile later this year.

Amajita needed extra time to see off their determined opponents, with Thabang Mahlangu scoring the only goal of the match.

It was a typically hard-fought knockout encounter, filled with tension, emotion, and fine margins. DRC had their chances — particularly in the first half — but South Africa stood firm, weathered the storm, and grew into the contest.

Mdaka praised his players’ resilience and adaptability under pressure.

“We used almost everything that we thought we had — technically, tactically, physically, and the character,” Mdaka said, after the match.

“You could see they had a very good plan for us, but we were fortunate not to concede in the first half. In the second half, we sorted it out, came back stronger, and managed to get a goal and protect it.”

South Africa’s progression to the final four confirms them as one of Africa’s four representatives at the U20 World Cup, scheduled for September. This latest milestone adds to a string of positive results for South Africa’s national teams in recent months.

Safa president Dr Danny Jordaan congratulated the squad on their achievement 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 Under-17 World Cup to be held in Qatar from November 3-27,” said Jordaan.

Amajita will now turn their attention to a difficult semi-final clash against Nigeria, one of the most successful nations in African youth football. The West African giants will present a different kind of challenge for Mdaka’s team — one that will test both their tactical discipline and mental fortitude.

Mahlangu’s extra-time winner may yet go down as one of the most important goals in recent memory for South Africa’s youth structures — and Amajita’s journey is far from over.