sportskeeda
Although South Africa’s Amajita put on an impressive show with a 5-0 triumph over New Caledonia in their Group E clash at the FIFA U-20 World Cup on Friday morning, coach Raymond Mdaka voiced his dissatisfaction, critiquing his players for a lack of discipline and failing to make the most of scoring chances.
The emphatic victory comes on the heels of Amajita’s disappointing 2-1 defeat against France in their opening match. This win has lifted South Africa to second place in the group and kept their hopes of advancing to the knockout stages alive.
Amajita’s goalscorers featured a brace from Siviwe Magidigidi, while Siviwe Nkwali, Shakeel April, and Lazola Maku each added a goal, highlighting their dominant performance.
This result marks Amajita’s largest victory in FIFA U-20 World Cup history, surpassing their previous 2-0 win over Honduras in 2009, when they advanced to the knockout stage before falling to the eventual champions, Ghana.
Despite the impressive scoreline, Mdaka was critical of his squad’s overall performance:
“We always appreciate and celebrate a victory. However, to be honest, this was a game where we should have scored nine or even ten goals. The players lacked tactical discipline, and we missed too many chances to push forward effectively,” Mdaka expressed.
The coach emphasized the necessity of professionalism in both offensive and defensive strategies, noting that goal difference could prove vital in determining which teams advance from the group.
Amajita’s upcoming challenge is quite significant against the group leaders USA, who have won against New Caledonia 9-1 and France 3-0. This crucial match is set for El Teniente Stadium on Sunday, coinciding with the France vs New Caledonia game.
With the USA currently holding six points and both France and South Africa tied at three, Amajita still have the opportunity to qualify by finishing second or as one of the best third-placed teams, reminiscent of their 2009 campaign.
Mdaka concluded:
“We need to move on from the New Caledonia match and concentrate on preparing for the USA. There’s still a route to progress, whether it’s achieving second place or advancing as one of the best third-placed teams.”
