Amajita will on Thursday face Nigeria in the semifinal of the 2025 CAF Under-20 Afcon in a match that will separate boys from men.
The highly anticipated clash will be played at the Suez Canal Stadium in Ismailia, Egypt, at 6pm (SA time).
The SA Under-20, dotingly known as Amajita, outdid themselves when they reached the semifinals of the tournament against all odds.
For this achievement, the coach Raymond Mdaka’s side has now qualified for the Fifa Under-20 World Cup scheduled for September in Chile.
South Africa’s journey began with a gritty 1-0 win over Tanzania, which was followed by a 1-0 defeat to Egypt and a commanding 4-1 win over Sierra Leone in Group A.
Finishing top of the group, Amajita met DR Congo in the quarterfinals in a physically demanding match.
Shakeel April set up Thabang Mahlangu for the decisive extra-time winner, sending South Africa through to the semifinals and the World Cup.
Grit and determination
Nigeria have also shown grit and determination in Group B, defeating Tunisia 1-0, drawing with Morocco, and playing out a thrilling 2-2 draw with Kenya to top the group.
Their quarterfinal was a heavyweight clash with defending champions Senegal, where Nigeria kept their composure in a tense goalless draw that went to penalties.
A 3-1 win in the shootout marked Nigeria’s 14th qualification for an U-20 World Cup, further cementing their status as the most successful African team at this level.
Morocco and Egypt will also play in the semifinal on Thursday night. The four teams’ progression ensures that Africa will be strongly represented in Chile with a blend of traditional powerhouses and resurging contenders.
The World Cup will feature six groups of four teams. The top two teams from each group plus the four best third-placed teams will move on to the round of 16.
From there, it will be a straight knockout path to the final.
There are no easy games
This year marks the 24th edition of the Fifa Under-20 World Cup, a tournament that has launched the careers of global superstars.
So, the inclusion of these four African sides, each with their own ambitions and unique styles, adds flavour to what promises to be an unforgettable tournament in Chile.
Mdaka said: “The game against DR Congo … we knew there are no easy games because all the countries want to qualify for the World Cup.
“So, we used almost everything that we had, technically, tactically, physically, and we showed character.
“You could see they had a very good plan for us, but we were fortunate not to concede in the first half and in the second half. We sorted it out, and then we came back and were able to get a goal.”
