Amajita Bow Out of FIFA U20 World Cup After Brave Battle Against Colombia

Talca, Chile – 9 October 2025
South Africa’s U20 men’s national team, the Amajita, saw their spirited FIFA U20 World Cup run come to an end on Wednesday night following a hard-fought 3–1 defeat to Colombia in the Round of 16 at the Estadio Fiscal de Talca.

The result brings a close to what has been one of the most encouraging U20 campaigns in recent years, as Raymond Mdaka’s side—who finished second in Group E after a historic win over the United States—once again showed resilience and attacking promise against one of the tournament’s form teams.

Early Pressure and Setbacks

The match began at a frantic pace with Colombia, unbeaten heading into the knockout stages, immediately asserting themselves. After surviving a nervy moment in the second minute when goalkeeper Fletcher Smythe-Lowe’s clearance was nearly punished, South Africa conceded in the seventh.
A well-placed cross from Oscar Perea found Joel Canchimbo, who finished clinically past Smythe-Lowe to hand the South Americans a 1–0 lead.

Despite the early blow, Amajita settled into rhythm and began controlling possession, with Shakeel April and Mfundo Vilakazi testing the Colombian defense. April came closest in the 16th minute when his curling strike whistled just over the top corner, while Vilakazi forced two fine saves from Jordan García before halftime.

At the break, Colombia led 1–0, but the balance of play told a different story—South Africa had enjoyed 55% possession and created nearly as many shooting chances as their opponents.

Vilakazi Levels, but Colombia Responds

South Africa’s persistence paid off just minutes into the second half when VAR confirmed a penalty after García fouled Siviwe Magidigidi inside the area.
Vilakazi initially saw his effort saved, but the referee ordered a retake after García was adjudged to have moved off his line early. The Mamelodi Sundowns starlet made no mistake on the second attempt, coolly sending the goalkeeper the wrong way to level the match at 1–1 in the 50th minute.

However, Colombia struck back in the 62nd minute through Neiser Villarreal, whose thunderous strike into the top corner restored their lead and shifted momentum once again.

Mdaka introduced fresh legs—Rapoo, Magidigidi, and Vilakazi again leading the charge forward—but Colombia’s defensive structure held firm. As Amajita pushed numbers forward in the final minutes, Villarreal pounced on a counterattack to score his second and Colombia’s third in stoppage time, sealing a 3–1 win.

Amajita Leave with Heads Held High

While the scoreline flattered Colombia, South Africa’s young side can take immense pride in their performance. They recorded more possession, matched the South Americans for shots (19 to 18), and showed the same courage that had carried them past the United States days earlier.

Head coach Raymond Mdaka praised his players for their maturity and growth throughout the tournament:

“We gave everything tonight. Colombia are a top side, but I’m proud of how our boys fought and represented South Africa. This experience will shape their future careers.”

Captain Asekho Tiwani echoed his coach’s sentiments:

“We believed until the end. It hurts to go out, but we’ve shown that South African football is producing real talent capable of competing on the world stage.”

Looking Ahead

For Colombia, the victory secures a quarter-final clash against Spain—who defeated Ukraine 1–0 earlier in the evening—while for South Africa, the journey ends with renewed optimism.

From an opening defeat to France to statement wins over New Caledonia and the USA, Amajita’s campaign in Chile has showcased a new generation of talent, resilience, and belief in South African youth football.