South Africa coach Raymond Mdaka says his mind is not on his team being a conquering side at the 2025 FIFA Under-20 World Cup, but believes in the abilities of his players on a global stage.
Amajita are in Chile for the World Cup and open their Group E campaign against France at Estadio El Teniente on Monday. The USA and New Caledonia complete this pool. South Africa are making their fifth appearance at the Under-20 World Cup, and their best finish was reaching the Round of 16 in 2009 while failing to get past the Group phase in three other editions.
They arrived in Chile with a glowing reputation as African champions, but Mdaka has moved in to protect his boys from pressure by watering down expectations on them.
“South Africans, everybody is saying it’s a very good team, and we believe in the team, we are confident. Once we can have the same attitude, the same mind, then we can always do the best in this World Cup,” said Mdaka.
MDAKA USES AFCON TACTIC TO WATER DOWN WORLD CUP EXPECTATIONS
“Let me not think about that [conquering the world] because you never know how you will put the foot down. But then, just like AFCON, the only thinking that took us to that level was when we went to the semi-finals.
“I remember when we were in Mozambique and played the semi-finals, the boys said ‘coach Ray, we don’t want to qualify for AFCON now, we have already qualified, we want the trophy and we don’t want the silver medal but gold’ and we got it. They said so.
“I like the character, I like the confidence. It is something that makes it easy as a team. We know the games have their challenges. When we talk about the World Cup, this is the biggest stage.”
DEFYING THE ABSENCE OF KEY PLAYERS
Amajita are in South America without two key figures of this squad in Orlando Pirates defender Mbekezeli Mbokazi and attacker Shandre Campbell, who plays his club football with Belgian top-flight league outfit Club Brugge.
Mbokazi was blocked from joining the Under-20s by Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos. The latter needs Mbokazi for the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Zimbabwe and Rwanda. Club Brugge declined to release Campbell. who is now with their first team after starting out with their reserve side last season.
However, Mdaka can bank on the experience of PSL players like the Mamelodi Sundowns trio of Siyabonga Mabena, Kutlwano Letlhaku and team captain Asekho Tiwani, as well as the Kaizer Chiefs duo of Mfundo Vilakazi and Luke Baartman.
Langelihle Phili of Stellenbosch FC, Siwelele FC defender Neo Rapoo and Durban City FC midfielder Patrick Autata can also be trusted to help Amajita.
European flavour is added to the squad by Portugal-based goalkeeper Fletcher Smythe-Lowe and Queens Park Rangers centre-back Tylon Smith, who was the 2025 Under-20 AFCON Player of the Tournament.
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