by AKANI CHAUKE
JOHANNESBURG – THE triumph by South Africa at the Confederation of African Football (CAF) Under-20 Africa Cup of Nations underlines how the country is in a good space in the beautiful game.
Amajita (The Gents) landed back home on Tuesday to a rapturous welcome after defeating Morocco 1-0 in the final, at the tournament played in Morocco.
The youngsters’ win is in addition to the senior women’s national team clinching the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) in 2022.
The senior men’s national team won bronze at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
Perennial local league champions, Mamelodi Sundowns, are also in the final of the CAF Champions League.
President Cyril Ramaphosa lauded the junior champions before his tour of the United States.
“The nation is beaming with joyful pride and wishes SAFA and Amajita continued success at the Under20- FIFA World Cup in Chile later this year,” Ramaphosa said.
SAFA is an acronym for the South African Football Association.
The senior men’s national team, winners of the AFCON in 1996, has qualified for AFCON 2025 and is on the verge of qualifying for World Cup 2026.
