Coach Mdaka announces squad for South Africa at the 2025 U-20 Africa Cup of Nations for Flying Eagles

By Oyediji Oluwaseun Babatunde

Raymond Mdaka, the head coach of the South African Under-20 men’s national team, has revealed the roster that will compete for the nation in the upcoming 2025 U-20 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) taking place this month.

This biennial international youth football tournament will be hosted in Egypt from 27 April to 18 May 2025, with Senegal entering as the reigning champions.

Mdaka has selected a squad of 21 players, with an additional four on standby: Gabriel Amato, Thato Sibiya, Naledi Hlongwane, and Thato Mpati.

“The squad features the backbone of the team, comprising players who have been with us since the beginning of our preparations and through the COSAFA tournament. We have also included players who were not part of the Mozambique camp, such as Mfundo Vilakazi, Asekho Tiwane, Langelihle Phili, and Siviwe Nkwali. Notably, Shandre Campbell is absent from this list due to his club, Club Brugge in Belgium, citing concerns regarding his first-team involvement and championship commitments,” he stated.

The squad, along with the standby players, will convene for training in Johannesburg starting on 20 April 2025.

The four semi-finalists from the 2025 U-20 AFCON will earn the opportunity to represent Africa at the 2025 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Chile, scheduled for September 2025.

South Africa will take on Nigeria’s Flying Eagles, hosts Egypt and Morocco in Group B.