Amajita Jet Off to U20 AFCON in Egypt

South Africa’s national U20 side, Amajita, is en route to Egypt as they prepare to kick off their U20 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) campaign. Coach Raymond Mdaka remains positive about the team’s readiness. This is despite that they face the challenge of travelling without some of their most crucial players.

Amajita wrapped up their local preparations with a convincing 5-0 victory over Sekhukhune United’s ABC Motsepe League team in Bedfordview earlier this week. While a full-strength squad was not available for the friendly, Mdaka believes the team has gained the momentum they need heading into the continental tournament.

Coach Mdaka’s Adaptability and Adjustments

“We were hoping to test ourselves against a fellow AFCON participant,” Mdaka said. “Unfortunately, that didn’t work out. We had planned to face Congo before the change in host nation, but logistics didn’t align once the tournament was moved from Ivory Coast to Egypt.”

Despite the adjustments, the coach feels they’ve made the best of the situation. “As a coach, you must always be ready to adapt. We would have liked a tougher warm-up match. One that could test our boys mentally and physically, but we’re still satisfied with the level we’re at.”

Opening Game Against Host Nation Egypt

Amajita will open their Group A fixtures against the host nation, Egypt, on Sunday at the Cairo International Stadium. The other teams in the group include Zambia, Sierra Leone, and Tanzania. This makes it a tightly contested pool. Egypt come into the match having suffered a narrow 2-1 defeat to Nigeria in a friendly on Tuesday. This could boost Amajita’s confidence.

Key Players Missing from the Squad

One of the major concerns for Mdaka is the absence of some key players. The squad has been trimmed by the unavailability of Shandre Campbell and Mbekezeli Mbokazi. Both were withheld by their clubs. Mbokazi, in particular, has been a significant part of the Amajita setup. He helped the team qualify through their COSAFA U20 Championship triumph last year.

“Shandre is with the first team, and the club made it clear weeks ago that it would be tough to release him. It’s the same with Mbokazi. He’s been an integral part of our journey. Not having him in Egypt is a big loss,” Mdaka admitted.

Club Commitments Impacting Squad Selection

The Orlando Pirates youngster, still active in the CAF Champions League and with the club pushing for domestic honours, has not been released. Mdaka understands this from a club perspective but regrets it from a national team view.

Also missing from the lineup is Mabena, another key player, who suffered an untimely injury.

High Stakes for Amajita

The stakes are high at this year’s tournament, as the four semifinalists will automatically qualify for the FIFA U20 World Cup set to take place in Chile later this year. With such a prestigious reward on the line, Amajita will need to dig deep despite the odds.

Mdaka’s optimism and the squad’s solid preparation back home will be key. They aim to make the country proud in Egypt.

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