Mbekezeli Mbokazi and Shandre Campbell Miss Out as Kaizer Chiefs and Sundowns Dominate South Africa U20 Squad for World Cup

South Africa’s U20 team, Amajita, have confirmed their squad for the 2025 FIFA U-20 Men’s World Cup in Chile, set to run from September 27 to October 19. The tournament features 24 teams, including Nigeria, Egypt, Morocco, Argentina, Brazil, France, Italy, Spain, and New Zealand.

Amajita will face a challenging Group E, which includes France, New Caledonia, and the United States. Their opening match is against France on September 29, followed by New Caledonia and the United States. South Africa will be aiming to build on their recent U20 AFCON success.

Coach Raymond Mdaka had hoped to include Mbekezeli Mbokazi and Shandre Campbell in the squad. Mbokazi has been a standout for both Orlando Pirates and Bafana Bafana, but his club commitments and heavy schedule made his inclusion impossible. Campbell, who had been training with the squad, was also left out. Mdaka ultimately decided to exclude Pirates players entirely from the World Cup squad.

The final squad is dominated by players from Kaizer Chiefs and Mamelodi Sundowns. These two Premier Soccer League giants provide the core of Amajita, reflecting their focus on youth development and recent form in domestic competitions.

The absence of Mbokazi and Campbell is a setback, but Mdaka has emphasized team cohesion and readiness. South Africa will need strong performances from their Chiefs and Sundowns contingent to compete against established youth sides from Europe, South America, and Asia.

Amajita head into the tournament with hopes of advancing from the group stage and showcasing South Africa’s young talent on the world stage. The squad’s performance will be closely watched as they aim to repeat continental success on a global level.