Mbokazi & Vilakazi Lead South Africa U-20 Squad For AFCON
Mbekezeli Mbokazi and Mfundo Vilakazi lead the squad named by South Africa’s U-20 coach for the U-20 Africa Cup of Nations.
Coach Mdaka has announced a 21-player squad, with four players on standby. The standby players are Gabriel Amato, Thato Sibiya, Naledi Hlongwane, and Thato Mpati.
The entire squad, including the standby players, will assemble for a training camp in Johannesburg on April 20th.
Mbokazi has been a revelation for Orlando Pirates since his PSL debut in March against Chippa United in the Betway Premiership. In his seven appearances for the Soweto giants, Pirates have won five matches, including victories over Mamelodi Sundowns in the league and MC Alger in the first leg of the CAF Champions League quarter-finals.
He also featured in the back three that drew with Alger in the second leg at Orlando Stadium on Wednesday. Notably, he has earned three man-of-the-match awards during this period.
Other notable names in the squad include Mamelodi Sundowns left-back Asekho Tiwane and Stellenbosch’s Langelihle Phili.
“The list consists of the core of the team, the players we have had since the start of our preparations and through to COSAFA. We also have players we did not have in Mozambique, the likes of Mfundo Vilakazi, Asekho Tiwane, Langelihle Phili, and Siviwe Nkwali. This list is minus Shandre Campbell, whose team (Club Brugge in Belgium) has cited issues of him being in the first team and also issues of their championship,” Mdaka explained.
The biennial African international youth football tournament will be held in Egypt from 27 April to 18 May, with Senegal as the defending champions.
The four semi-finalists at the 2025 U-20 AFCON will represent the continent at the 2025 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Chile in September 2025.
