South Africa’s U20 national football team, Amajita, have clinched a spot in the quarterfinals of the 2025 U20 Africa Cup of Nations following a spirited 1-1 draw against Zambia at the Suez Canal Stadium in Egypt on Friday night.
The draw was enough for Amajita to top Group A, finishing their group stage campaign with just one defeat in five matches. The match saw early fireworks as Kutlwano Letlhaku opened the scoring for South Africa in the 8th minute before Zambia responded swiftly with an equalizer three minutes later. Despite the equal scoreline, the result left Zambia eliminated and Amajita heading confidently into the knockout rounds.
Head coach Raymond Mdaka expressed his satisfaction with the team’s tactical discipline and resilience, especially in managing the pressure from a Zambian side desperate for a win.
“Our game against Zambia in the final group stage match, we knew it would be a bit tricky because of the margin of the points,” Mdaka told SAFA.net. “They wanted a win at all costs… but fortunately, we knew how they played.”
Mdaka praised the leadership of Amajita’s captain and their ability to quickly adapt under pressure. “In the second half, as much as we could not play well offensively, we were able to manage the situation because we knew the 1-1 draw was in favour of our side.”
South Africa will now face DR Congo in the quarterfinals on Monday, 12 May 2025, at the Suez Canal Stadium. A win will put them a step closer to lifting the continental title and showcasing the depth of young footballing talent in the country.
