South Africa’s U-20 team, Amajita, qualified for the 2025 FIFA U-20 World Cup on Monday after a hard-fought 1-0 extra-time victory over the Democratic Republic of Congo in the quarterfinals of the ongoing Under-20 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt.
Thabang Mahlangu scored the decisive goal four minutes into extra time, securing South Africa’s place in the tournament’s semifinals for the fifth time in their history.
Amajita will now face Nigeria in a semifinal clash on Thursday at Suez Canal Stadium in Ismailia, Egypt.
Meanwhile, hosts Egypt will take on Morocco in the other semifinal in Cairo.
The top four teams in the tournament automatically qualify for the 2025 U-20 World Cup in Chile, set for September and October.
South Africa last competed in the World Cup in 2019 in Poland, where they exited in the group stage.
JN/APA