Amajita advance to semis - Mdaka fumes over Eswatini display

After fielding a team largely dominated by fringe players, Amajita laboured to a 2-0 win, but they appeared to have taken their foot off the pedal and wasted numerous goal-scoring opportunities. 

Goals from Manelisi Mazibuko and Milimo Nalumango sealed the result for the SA U20 men’s national team, but Mdaka felt that his team should have done much better than that...

"Maybe it was a metal issue because the players realised that Eswatini had not won a game, but some of them are already playing in top leagues so they should be professional enough to know that when they enter the field of play it should always be about business."

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Having rested more than five regulars for this game, with Takalani Mahamba, Egan Freese, Cayden Fortune, captain Lazola Maku and Mazibuko the only survivors from the team that started against Angola, Mdaka says it was important that they refresh the team, ahead of the semifinals...

"We had to manage the minor injuries, but at the same time this is a junior tournament so we have to test the whole squad and give others who have fresh legs an opportunity to play. We rested five players we usually play, but the way we want to play never changes."

 Amajita will now meet Group C winners Zambia, who also finished unbeaten in their group, in the second semifinal tomorrow, with the winner also qualifying for next year’s Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) tournament. 

Mdaka knows that this game is a must-win and he will be banking on the players who were rested.

The semifinal clash against Zambia is also going to be a repeat of the 2024 final, which Amajita won 2-0 and then they went on to also win their maiden AFCON title the following year in Egypt. 

Mdaka says with AFCON qualification at stake in this game, a win is top priority.