Mfundo Vilakazi Could Miss May’s Soweto Derby! Kaizer Chiefs, Mamelodi Sundowns & Orlando Pirates First Team Players Included in South Africa’s U20 Afcon Preliminary Squad

South Africa’s U20 national team head coach, Raymond Mdaka, has announced a preliminary squad of 38 players for the upcoming 2025 Under-20 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) finals in Ivory Coast. This squad includes a number of Premier Soccer League (PSL) first-team players from Kaizer Chiefs, Mamelodi Sundowns, and Orlando Pirates, all of whom will be hoping to represent Amajita in the prestigious continental tournament.

Among the notable inclusions are Kaizer Chiefs’ Mfundo Vilakazi and Naledi Hlongwane, as well as Mamelodi Sundowns winger Kutlwano Letlhaku. Vilakazi, a key player for Chiefs, may find himself missing the much-anticipated Soweto Derby against Orlando Pirates on May 3, 2025, if he is selected for the final U20 squad. His potential absence will be a significant loss for Chiefs as they gear up for the highly charged fixture.

The U20 Afcon tournament will take place in Ivory Coast from April 26 to May 18, 2025, and Amajita secured their spot by winning the 2024 Cosafa U20 Championship. With the competition set to feature 12 teams, Mdaka is preparing his squad to face the continent’s best young talent. However, before the tournament, he will have to cut down the preliminary list to finalize his team, which promises to be packed with talent.

In addition to Chiefs’ Vilakazi, Orlando Pirates are also represented in the squad by Mbekezeli Mbokazi, who recently made the leap from the Bucs’ reserve team to the first team after signing his professional contract late last year. The inclusion of these PSL players is a testament to the growing depth of young talent in South Africa, with these players eager to shine on the continental stage.

As the tournament approaches, Coach Mdaka will have a tough task trimming his squad, but it will be exciting to see which players make the final cut to represent South Africa. Meanwhile, football fans can only wonder whether Vilakazi’s participation in the U20 Afcon will impact his availability for Kaizer Chiefs during one of the most exciting matches of the year.