Mdaka’s New-Look SA U23 Side Plans To Tame Algeria
South African U23 Men’s National Team coach Raymond Mdaka hopes the two friendly matches against Algeria will provide an indication of the way forward for his charges as they begin their journey towards the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games.
The newly assembled squad will play its first match on Thursday when it faces Algeria in the opening fixture at Dr Petrus Molemela Stadium in Bloemfontein at 15:00.
Africa has been allocated two spots at the global competition, but to secure a place at the Olympics in Los Angeles, the countries will have to battle it out at the U23 Africa Cup of Nations tournament, scheduled to take place in Egypt in 2027. Only the top two teams will book their tickets to LA.
Earlier this year, Mdaka held his first training camp with a large squad of U23 players, which he has now trimmed down ahead of their first match.
“The long road to LA started with our training camp earlier this year, and this match against Algeria will be the first time that the U23s have run out in a long time,” said Mdaka.
“We believe we have selected a team strong enough to withstand the rigours of this competition, as it is going to be a very long road to 2028. These two games will give us an indication of what we need to do going forward.
“This match presents an opportunity for those who are here to show what they can do at this level, as you know that the bulk of the team is from the U20 squad.
“We have done some work over the last few days, and it is slowly coming together, which makes this match all the more important in determining where we are going.”
South Africa has been forced to make several changes to the initial squad called up for the camp, with Emile Witbooi, Cayden Fortune, Waylon Renecke, Thato Sibiya and Gomolemo Kekana all ruled out for various reasons.
Mdaka has called up Hope FC’s Moses Mphekgoane, as well as Nhlanhla Gasa from Lamontville Golden Arrows FC, to strengthen the squad and bring the number of players to 23.
The Madagascar U23 team has been handed a free pass to the next round after their Comoros counterparts withdrew from the competition.
South Africa will face Madagascar in the two-legged Olympic qualifiers in November.
