By Dayo Awoniyi
South Africa U20 head coach Raymond Mdaka has revealed the tactical discipline and mental fortitude that guided his side to a narrow yet significant 1-0 victory over Nigeria’s Flying Eagles in their U20 Africa Cup of Nations semi-final clash.
Reflecting on the match, Mdaka lauded his players’ commitment to the game plan and praised their growing maturity throughout the tournament.
“Yes, another win — congratulations to the boys. They did a fantastic job, showed great character, remained disciplined, and followed the tactical and technical plan we agreed on. We really appreciate their effort,” Mdaka said.
Despite the physical and technical quality of the Nigerian team, the Amajita stood firm and executed their strategy effectively. The South African coach admitted it was a tough test but highlighted the progress his players have made on and off the pitch.
“It wasn’t an easy game, but our boys are growing with every match, developing in character and improving in all aspects. Thank you and well done to the boys, and well done to the country,” he added.
With the win, South Africa books a place in the AFCON U20 final, where they will square off against Morocco on Sunday in a bid for continental glory.
Samuel Ahmadu is a distinguished multimedia journalist and women's football expert with over 15 years of experience in the industry. He began his career at Goal.com in February 2014, where he served as an African women's football correspondent for nearly eight years. During his tenure at Goal.com, Samuel covered major events such as three Women's Africa Cup of Nations (2016, 2018, 2022) and the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup in Canada plus 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. His work at Goal.com earned him widespread acclaim, particularly for his in-depth profiles of African football stars, notably Asisat Oshoala, whose rise he documented from her early years to her breakthrough at the FIFA U20 Women's World Cup in 2014. Prior to his role at Goal.com, Samuel freelanced for various print and broadcast media outlets in Nigeria, including Graphics Newspaper, Radio Nigeria, Grace FM, and Savid Newspaper. His extensive experience and expertise led to his appointment to the Nigeria Football Federation's Standing Committee on Women's Football Development from 2016 to 2018. Since February 2018, Samuel has been the Social Media Manager for Nigeria's women's national teams.In 2019, Samuel joined the Confederation of African Football (CAF) as a women's football content contributor and was promoted to Women's Football Editor in 2021. His contributions to women's football continued as he worked as a Media Consultant for Content Creation and Editorials at the 2022 CAF Women's Champions League. Currently, Samuel also serves as the spokesman for the Nigeria Women Football League, further solidifying his influence and dedication to the growth of women's football in Africa.
