Vilakazi And Smith Headline SA’s FIFA U-20 World Cup Squad
South Africa’s Under-20 coach, Raymond Mdaka, has announced his preliminary squad for the FIFA World Cup in Chile next month.
The squad notably does not include current Orlando Pirates captain Mbekezeli Mbokazi.
However, it is headlined by some of the country’s most promising young talents, including Mfundo Vilakazi of Kaizer Chiefs, Tylon Smith, who recently joined Queen’s Park Rangers, and Kutlwano Letlhaku of Mamelodi Sundowns.
Other key players named in the squad are Letlhaku’s teammate Asekho Tiwani, Cape Town City’s Shakeel April, and Stellenbosch’s Langelihle Phili.
The SA Under-20 team qualified for the World Cup after winning the CAF U-20 tournament in May with a victory over Morocco.
The tournament will run from 27 September to 19 October.
FIFA World Cup Groups
- Group A: Chile, Egypt, Japan, New Zealand
- Group B: Korea Republic, Panama, Paraguay, Ukraine
- Group C: Brazil, Mexico, Morocco, Spain
- Group D: Argentina, Australia, Cuba, Italy
- Group E: France, New Caledonia, South Africa, USA
- Group F: Colombia, Nigeria, Norway, Saudi Arabia
The top two teams from each of the six groups will advance to the Round of 16, along with the four best third-placed teams.
