The investment that has been made in the growth of South African youth football paid off on the continental stage on Sunday, as the Under-20 men’s national team won the Under-20 Africa Cup of Nations.
Amajita etched their names into the record books of continental football by winning their first-ever Africa youth championship.
En route to the title on Sunday night, Amajita beat Morocco 1–0 at the 30 June Stadium in Cairo, courtesy of a second-half goal by Gomolemo Kekana. That win means Amajita will head to the Fifa Under-20 World Cup in Chile in September as African champions, surpassing the class of 1997 who finished as runners-up.
South African youth football has been on the rise recently, with the Under-17 men’s national team – Amajimbos – also qualifying for the Fifa Under-17 World Cup in Qatar in late November.
This upward trajectory comes as the PSL reserve league – the DStv Diski Challenge (DDC) – celebrates 10 years of existence and success. The DDC has been a breeding and nurturing ground for some of the top exports the country has ever produced, including Bafana Bafana’s talisman, Percy Tau.
In his U20 Afcon squad, coach Raymond Mdaka included players who are either currently playing in the reserve league or have graduated from it. Kekana and Tylon Smith, who scored the title-winning goal and won the Player of the Tournament award respectively, are on the books of Mamelodi Sundowns and Stellenbosch reserve teams, respectively.
🇿🇦 𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐌𝐏𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐒 🇿🇦
Amajitas win the 2025 #TotalEnergiesAFCONU20 title! 🏆 pic.twitter.com/LOPounvA0A
— CAF_Online (@CAF_Online) May 18, 2025
Mfundo Vilakazi, Neo Rapoo and Kutlwano Letlhaku are notable DDC graduates now playing for their respective senior teams.
Speaking at his post-match press conference after the final, Mdaka heaped praise on the impact of the DDC on South African football, addressing the media including SABC Sport.
“Back home, we used to have interviews and we said the number of players that we see are playing in the DDC,” Mdaka said. “Most of them were promoted to their senior teams after our games in Mozambique, which says a lot about the youth – we seem to be getting there as a team.
“That’s the foundation of the senior national team. The U17 national team has also qualified for the World Cup.”
South Africa lift the #TotalEnergiesAFCONU20 trophy for the first time ever 🇿🇦🏆 pic.twitter.com/RiC7e7KIRp
— SuperSport Football ⚽️ (@SSFootball) May 18, 2025
Mdaka noted that the DDC has made scouting easier for him and his technical team, as the league hosts festivals across the country that are often broadcast.
“So again, we need to put more focus on development because that’s what can take our football somewhere,” Mdaka said.
“We need to salute our DDC because it made it easy for us to be able to see players every weekend, going to different (venues). The country is also big, so if it wasn’t for the DDC, we wouldn’t see them. It was easier to follow up through the DDC. So, we salute them and say they’ve done a good job.”
Mdaka admitted that they had to be at their best to reach the final and win it, with all their knockout-stage victories coming by narrow margins, including the final.
🏅 𝕄𝔸ℕ 𝕆𝔽 𝕋ℍ𝔼 𝕄𝔸𝕋ℂℍ 🏅
Amajita goalkeeper Fletcher Smythe-Lowe!
𝐒𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐡 𝐀𝐟𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐚 🇿🇦 1⃣➖0⃣ 🇲🇦 𝐌𝐨𝐫𝐨𝐜𝐜𝐨
🚨 LIVE
🥇 Final
📺 SABC 2
📱 https://t.co/26PdrPrnVE#SABCSportFootball #TotalEnergiesAFCONU20 pic.twitter.com/dw17aJTaTp— SABC Sport (@SABC_Sport) May 18, 2025
“We always stick to what we know best, and make sure that we don’t concede. Mostly, if you don’t concede in a tournament, chances are you get one goal and win the game,” he added.
Amajita’s ascension wasn’t easy, as they lost their opening game to hosts Egypt before finishing top of Group A and defeating DRC, Nigeria and Morocco to win the crown. All three knockout stage wins came via 1–0 scorelines, and Mdaka has lauded his team’s defensive prowess.
Fletcher Smythe-Lowe kept four clean sheets and provided an assist for Kekana’s goal in the final, and was duly crowned Goalkeeper of the Tournament.
Speaking to CAF TV after being named Player of the Match following the final, Smythe-Lowe reflected on what the win meant for him.
“It means a lot to not only me but the team. This award goes to the rest of the team. With only me and without them, we’d be nowhere. Together we are stronger,” Smythe-Lowe said.
