“True African champions”- Mdaka after Amajita’s USA upset to reach the World Cup KO stage

This performance has led Amajita head coach Raymond Mdaka to proclaim that the African champions have shown their true credentials in this tournament.

This result was enough to secure the second spot in Group E and set up a clash in the second round against Group F winners Colombia.

Mdaka was impressed with the character of the team, after coming back from a goal down, to win this game.

"Congratulate the boys, I think honestly, the boys did a very good job, they showed character. They showed that they are the African champions, it was not an easy game, playing the USA, who have already won two games with a number goals,” Mdaka said.

“So, it looks like it was a mountain to climb but we agreed as a team, to say let's show up what we can as a team and I'm happy because we showed the character. You see, the score in the first half and we had to play the second half and be able to maintain and manage the game under pressure. 

“They would come and they were coming but we were able to manage the game tactically and character wise. Something that is very important for the team."

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Amajita play against Colombia in the last 16 stage on Wednesday. 

Mdaka has also been encouraged that the team has been receiving support from back home in Mzansi, as he says this has driven the boys to perform well when facing tough opponents.

"Something that I like is the support that we are getting from home. It shows that as much as we are here that we are together as a country but then there is the question that was always asked when we left to say, it's a World Cup, one of the difficult teams that we are gonna meet there, the groups that we are in,” Mdaka added.

“But we always said no, we promise the country just to do what we can. Sometimes it becomes better if you lose the game but with every player having given in all they, so we are together and we'll push even the next game that is coming."