With Amajita qualifying for the FIFA Under-20 after securing a semi-final spot at the ongoing AFCON in Egypt, two of their players have impressed a Belgian Jupiler Pro side, KRC Genk’s scout.
On Monday, South Africa’s U-20 team beat DR Congo 1-0, securing their place in the tournament’s final four. This accomplishment means they will be among the 24 teams competing in the World Cup later this year in Chile, which will take place from September 27 to October 19, 2025.
Interestingly, the team, coached by Raymond Mdaka, has garnered attention from overseas scouts due to their performance in the first four games of the tournament.
Although they started on a challenging note, losing 1-0 to hosts Egypt, they rebounded impressively in the next match, defeating Tanzania 1-0. The team then delivered a commanding performance against Sierra Leone, winning 4-1. Their final group stage match ended in a 1-1 draw against Zambia before they edged DRC in the quarterfinals.
WHICH TWO PLAYERS HAVE ATTRACTED GENK
According to SABC Sport, Genk scout Bernard Yao Kumordzi has expressed admiration for rising South African talent after witnessing the impressive performances of the Amajita at the ongoing U-20 Africa Cup of Nations [AFCON] tournament in Egypt.
The former RC Genk midfielder commended Jody Ah-Shene, the striker from Cape Town City FC, and noted the solid performance of Stellenbosch FC defender Tylon Smith as two players who particularly impressed him during the tournament.
“Of course, I’ve seen a couple of players that I think have a level. A player like Jody, for me, he has not scored a lot of goals, but he’s a player that has shown a lot of quality,” Yao Kumordzi told SABC’s Velile Mnyandu.
He highlighted three aspects of Ah-Shene’s game that impressed him: his speed, intensity, and ability to make good runs. Kumordzi also noted that Smith had been an outstanding defender throughout the tournament.
“Even though sometimes he does not receive the ball, I can see those runs, and also Tylon Smith has been amazing in this tournament.
“For me, he’s one of the best defenders that I’ve seen in the tournament so far. So, of course, South Africa is doing well, and I like that,” he added.
Kumordzi is a member of the CAF Technical Study Group [TSG], which has been evaluating the AFCON U20 tournament. He praised Amajita, saying they demonstrated an understanding of the game and an impressive technical ability.
RELATED STORY: ‘I don’t have to be a hero’: Amajita defender Tylon Smith