The South African U20 Men’s National Team, Amajita, saw their FIFA U20 World Cup journey come to an end after a 3-1 defeat to Colombia in the Round of 16 at the Estadio Fiscal de Talca in Chile on Wednesday night. Despite showing fight and determination, the young South Africans couldn’t keep up with the intensity of the South Americans, who deservedly advanced to the quarter-finals of the 2025 FIFA U20 Men’s World Cup.
Early Pressure and Defensive Mistakes
Colombia started on the front foot, applying relentless pressure from the opening whistle. South Africa’s goalkeeper, Fletcher Smythe-Lowe, was tested within minutes, pulling off a few important saves to keep the scoreline level. However, a defensive lapse in the seventh minute allowed Colombia to break the deadlock. Oscar Perea delivered a perfect cross into the box, and Joel Morales capitalised with a well-placed strike past Smythe-Lowe to hand Colombia the lead.
Amajita slowly found their rhythm midway through the first half. Shakeel April came close with a curling effort that just missed the top corner, while Mfundo Vilakazi forced two sharp saves from Colombia’s goalkeeper, Jordan Javier García. Despite their late surge, South Africa went into the break trailing 1-0, left to rue missed chances and slow defensive reactions.
Vilakazi’s Equaliser Sparks Hope
After halftime, coach Raymond Mdaka’s side showed renewed determination and started attacking with purpose. Just two minutes into the second half, Siviwe Magidigidi was fouled inside the penalty area, and the referee awarded a spot-kick following a VAR review. Vilakazi’s first attempt was saved by García, but the referee ordered a retake as the goalkeeper had moved off his line. On his second attempt, Vilakazi made no mistake, confidently sending García the wrong way to level matters at 1-1.
The equaliser gave Amajita fresh momentum, but Colombia quickly responded with attacking flair. Their quick passing and pace caused continuous problems for South Africa’s backline, forcing Smythe-Lowe into several important saves to keep the team in contention.
Villarreal Seals Colombia’s Victory
The breakthrough for Colombia came in the 62nd minute when Neiser Villarreal smashed the ball into the top corner following a slick team move that exposed South Africa’s defence. As Amajita pushed forward in search of another equaliser, they left spaces at the back, which Colombia exploited effectively. Deep into stoppage time, Villarreal completed his brace with a clinical finish on the counterattack to make it 3-1, ending Amajita’s World Cup dream.
Despite their late efforts, South Africa couldn’t recover, bowing out of the competition after a campaign that reflected both their fighting spirit and areas for growth.
Mdaka Reflects on a Painful Exit
Head coach Raymond Mdaka admitted that the result was a bitter pill to swallow. “It’s a hard pill to swallow, more so if you have a team that you believe can get results. But it’s the nature of football, especially in the knockout stages. You play, you don’t win, and you’re out,” Mdaka said. He also praised his players for their resilience, saying the experience gained on the world stage would be invaluable for their development. “Before one can talk about the match, I think it’s an experience for the boys, the technical team, and everyone who was here at the World Cup,” he added.
Also read: Amajita Secures Historic FIFA U-20 World Cup Knockout Spot
A Journey That Inspired the Nation
Amajita’s journey to the Round of 16 was nothing short of inspiring. They began their campaign with a narrow 2-1 defeat to France but bounced back strongly with emphatic wins over New Caledonia (5-0) and the USA (2-1) to secure their place in the knockout stages. Their World Cup run ended with two victories and two defeats, a record that highlights their impressive progress on the international stage.
Having won the COSAFA U20 Cup in 2024 and the CAF U20 Africa Cup of Nations earlier this year in Egypt, Amajita have shown that the country’s youth football is moving in the right direction. Their ability to compete against global powerhouses at this level reflects a bright future for South African football.
Amajita’s Pride, Progress, and Promise for the Future
Mdaka expressed his gratitude to supporters who stood behind the team throughout the tournament.
“We really appreciate the support. We would have loved to reach the quarter-finals, but football being football, it wasn’t to be. With continued support and hard work, we’ll represent the country even better next time,” he said.
South Africa’s elimination follows that of Nigeria and Egypt, leaving Morocco as the only African nation still in the competition, set to face Korea Republic on Friday. Amajita will return home proud, knowing they carried the nation’s hopes with honour and showcased the emerging potential within our youth football system.
