Amajita into u20 World Cup last 16 after win over USA
The u20 South African National Team, nicknamed Amajita and coached by Raymond Mdaka, is actively making history and altering the narrative about South African football.
Earlier this year, the team achieved a historic milestone by winning the u20 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon), which was a first for South Africa.
In July, they were crowned Cosafa champions for the tenth time.
Then, on Sunday, they burnished their reputation at the u20 FIFA World Cup in Chile by becoming the first South African national team to score two World Cup victories, which earned them a place in the last 16 of the tournament.
For the group stage, Amajita was placed in Group E with the USA, France, and New Caledonia. Their journey began with a setback, however, when, on 29 September, they fell to a 1-2 defeat to France, who scored a late winner.
In a must-win match against New Caledonia on 3 October, Amajita scored a comfortable 5-0 win. Siviwe Nkwali opened the scoring in the 25th minute. Then, Shakeel April converted a penalty to double South Africa’s lead.
Just before halftime, Siviwe Magidigidi netted the first of his two goals to make it 3-0 at the break.
In the second half, Magidigidi struck again in the 52nd minute, and Lazola Maku completed the scoring with a goal in the last 10 minutes.
In their final group match, South Africa faced the USA, who had won both of their matches, beating France 3-0 and New Caledonia 9-1. Once more, it was a must-win for Amajita. They rose to the occasion, gritting out a 2-1 victory.
They had to come from behind to win, though, with the USA striking early in the 12th minute. Only five minutes later, Joshua Wynder inadvertently provided Amajita with an equaliser when he netted an own goal.
Then, with two minutes remaining in the first half, Gomolemo Kekana, the u20 Afcon hero for Amajita, who netted a spectacular goal in the final against Morocco, in Cairo, struck again. His goal proved to be decisive as South Africa secured the win.
It was enough to leave them second in Group E, just behind the Americans on goal difference. It also played a big part in Kekana being named the Player of the Match.
Amajita has an opportunity to create more history when they face Colombia in the last 16. If they win, they will become the first South African side to reach the quarterfinals of a World Cup tournament.
They take on the Colombians on Wednesday at Estadio Fiscal, in Talca. The South Americans topped Group F, which also included Norway, Nigeria, and Saudi Arabia, with one win and two draws. A tough test awaits Amajita.
South Africa has previously reached the last 16 of an u20 FIFA World Cup. They achieved that feat in 2009 in Egypt, under coach Serame Letsoaka. In a tense clash, they just missed out on the quarterfinals, going down 1-2 to Ghana after extra time.
Following his team’s win over the USA, coach Raymond Mdaka said at a press conference: “Let me congratulate the boys. They showed character, and showed they are the African champions
“It was not an easy game, playing the USA, who had already won two games with a number of goals, so it looked like it was a mountain to climb, but then we agreed, as a team, to show what we can do as a team.
“We showed character by scoring in the first half and had to manage the game under pressure in the second half.
“Credit to the boys. Credit to the technical team, the support staff, and everybody, because the atmosphere always gives the boys energy to go, and here we are going into the second round,” he smiled.
