30 September – The South African U20 Men’s National Team put up a magnificent showing against France in their opening match of the 2025 FIFA U20 Men’s World Cup but ended up going down 2-1 at Estadio El Teniente in Rancagua, Chile on Monday night (South African time).
The Group E encounter started with the African Champions a bit nervous and allowing the young Les Bleues to dictate terms. The Europeans duly obliged and took the lead in the 25th minute after the South Africans lost the ball in the middle of the park, Anthony Bermont scoring the opening goal.
France had the better of the chances in this half but coach Raymond Mdaka’s charges grew in confidence as the game wore on, creating some chances that they did not convert. Amajita were awarded a penalty seven minutes later after Kutlwano Letlhaku was fouled inside the French territory by defender Elyaz Zidane, the son of the legendary French star, Zinedine Zidane.
Jody Ahshene stepped up and sent goalkeeper Lisandru Olmeta the wrong way to restore parity at the break. France came back stronger after the recess and dominated the ball possession with South Africa fighting with everything they had to keep the scoreline intact. Amajita could have managed a goal when Shakeel April was through on goal in one of the counter-attacks, but he rushed his shot with only the keeper to beat, and the ball went wide.
With the game 11 minutes from time, France got a late chance and Lucas Michal’s powerful shot hit the back of the net as they regained their lead (2-1). The Europeans held on to their advantage and clinched all three points while South Africa returns to the drawing board.
“We knew it was going be a tough game, they are full of individually talented players. We just couldn’t get it right from the first few minutes, we were unable to move out from the center, unable to break the lines so that we could be able to attack. But then as time went on, we started to get things together. The first goal that we conceded, we gave them space, we were not pressing enough, even with the second goal. We also got a number of chances and our players need to learn that once you get a chance we need to finish,” said Mdaka.
“It’s the name of the game, we learn from the mistakes, but I think we gave a good effort, gave a good account of ourselves – it’s just that this is not how we wanted to start, maybe a draw would have been better. But we are left with two games, and we’ll see how we best can we approach the next game.”
This was the second meeting between the two nations in this tournament – in 1997 in Malaysia, Thierry Henry and David Trezeguet both scored a brace each as they edged out Amajita 4-2 in the group stages.
South Africa next face debutants New Caledonia on Friday morning 2 October (01h00 South African time) 20h00 local time in Chile. It will be a battle of two teams who lost their opening games – New Caledonia were defeated 9-1 by the USA in a later kick-off.
In the other Group E clash, the Americans will entertain France.
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