Kaizer Chiefs dominate Amajita AFCON’s preliminary squad
A large contingent of Kaizer Chiefs players has been selected for Amajita’s preliminary squad, highlighting the club’s strong youth development ahead of the CAF U20 AFCON in Cote d’Ivoire.
SA Under-20 head coach Raymond Mdaka named his preliminary squad on Wednesday, 12 March 2025. Mdaka’s squad consists of seven Chiefs players, which is more than any other team, while Mamelodi Sundowns have five players.
South Africa are in Group B with Egypt, Nigeria, and Morocco. The tournament will commence on 26 April and end on 18 May 2025.
Amajita booked their ticket to the AFCON U20 tournament after winning the COSAFA U-20 Championship when they defeated Zambia 2-0 in October last year in the final.
The U-20 AFCON competition will consist of 13 nations that will be gunning for the title from next month.
Mdaka’s preliminary squad include rising stars such as Mfundo Vilakazi and Naledi Hlongwane [Kaizer Chiefs], Kutlwano Lethlaku and Asekho Tiwani [Mamelodi Sundowns], Neo Rapoo [SuperSport United], Luke Baartman [Cape Town Spurs], just to mention a few.
However, there is a notable omission from the squad in the name of Shandre Campbell, who played a big role in helping the team qualify for the AFCON tournament. He scored three goals during the COSAFA U-20 Championship.
The teenage sensation has made impressive progress in his first six months in the books of Belgian giants, Club Brugge. He joined them in July last year.
The former SuperSport attacker made his presence felt in Belgium, having scored six goals and provided one assist in 13 Challenger Pro League games for the club’s feeder team, Club NXT.
Following his satisfying displays with Club NXT, the 19-year-old was promoted to the first team.
TOP FOUR NATIONS TO QUALIFY FOR FIFA U20 WORLD CUP
This tournament will serve as the 2025 FIFA U-20 World Cup qualifiers with the global showpiece set to be hosted in Chile from 27 September to 19 October 2025.
The semifinalists of this year’s AFCON U20 tournament will head off to Chile for the U20 World Cup competition.
The 30-member preliminary squad will be trimmed to the final 23 players in due course.
AMAJITA FULL PRELIMINARY SQUAD
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