South Africa Crush New Caledonia 5-0 to Secure First FIFA U-20 World Cup Victory

South Africa’s U-20 side, Amajita, recorded their first win at the FIFA U-20 World Cup with a convincing 5-0 victory over New Caledonia at Estadio El Teniente. The result gave the African champions a much-needed boost after opening their campaign with a 2-1 loss to France.

New Caledonia entered the fixture under pressure after suffering a heavy 8-0 defeat against the United States, and their defensive struggles continued against a sharp and motivated South African side. Coach Helman Mkhalele made two changes to his lineup, introducing Mfundo Vilakazi and Siviwe Magidigidi in attack, while Jody Ah Shene and Kutlwano Letlhaku dropped to the bench. The switch paid off almost immediately.

Amajita dominated possession from the outset and broke the deadlock in the 25th minute. Langelihle Phili delivered a precise cross into the penalty area, and Siviwe Nkwali rose above the defense to head past the goalkeeper. South Africa doubled their advantage 11 minutes later when Magidigidi was fouled in the box, and Shakeel April calmly converted the penalty, repeating his scoring success from the opening match.

Momentum stayed with the South Africans, and just before halftime they struck again. Vilakazi slipped a clever pass to Magidigidi, who finished from close range to give Amajita a commanding 3-0 lead at the interval.

The second half saw more of the same. Magidigidi completed his brace in the 52nd minute, showing composure inside the box after another assist from Vilakazi. With the result beyond doubt, South Africa continued to press for more goals. Substitute Lazola Maku sealed the emphatic victory in the closing stages, unleashing a powerful strike that left the New Caledonian goalkeeper helpless.

The 5-0 result underlines South Africa’s attacking potential and strengthens their position in Group E. Amajita now face a crucial test on Sunday against group leaders United States, who have already demonstrated their firepower with two commanding wins. A victory in that clash would boost South Africa’s chances of advancing to the knockout stages.

This performance not only restored confidence after the opening defeat but also highlighted the team’s depth and sharpness in front of goal. With players like Magidigidi and Vilakazi finding their rhythm, Amajita will look to build on this result and keep their World Cup hopes alive.