Raymond Mdaka Names Final 24-Man South Africa Under-23 Squad for Madagascar Qualifiers

South Africa Under-23 head coach Raymond Mdaka has announced his final 24-man squad for the upcoming two-legged Olympic qualifiers against Madagascar, with several promising Premier Soccer League youngsters earning opportunities to represent the country.

The matches, scheduled for 14 and 17 November 2026, will take place at Lucas Moripe Stadium in Atteridgeville as Amaglug-glug continue their preparations for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games.

One of the notable inclusions is Belgium-based winger Shandre Campbell, whose recent involvement with Bafana Bafana has highlighted his growing reputation. Campbell assisted Puso Dithejane's winning goal in South Africa's 1-0 friendly victory over Egypt, demonstrating the creativity and attacking quality he could bring to Mdaka's team.

Orlando Pirates will be encouraged by the selection of several emerging talents, including goalkeeper Kgoleng Ratisani, midfielder Camren Dansin, Simphiwe Selepe and forward Mpho Padime. Their inclusion provides an opportunity to gain valuable international experience while continuing their development.

Kaizer Chiefs are also represented, with Mfundo Vilakazi, Faiz Abrahams and Luke Baartman earning places in the squad. The trio will be eager to impress Mdaka and demonstrate their potential on the international stage.

Mamelodi Sundowns youngsters Gomolemo Kekana, Bennet Mokoena and Kutlwano Letlhaku have also been selected, while players from Stellenbosch FC, Cape Town City and Golden Arrows further strengthen the squad's representation across the domestic game.

South Africa's immediate objective is to progress through the qualifiers and secure a place at the 2027 CAF Under-23 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt. The tournament will serve as the continental qualifying competition for the Olympic Games.

Mdaka's team recently gained valuable preparation through two friendly matches against Algeria, winning the opening encounter 3-1 before drawing the second 1-1.

The upcoming fixtures against Madagascar will therefore provide an important test of the team's readiness. With Olympic qualification ambitions at stake, Mdaka will expect his players to demonstrate discipline, consistency and attacking confidence across both matches.

For the selected youngsters, the qualifiers also present an opportunity to strengthen their international credentials and move closer to earning future opportunities with the senior national team.

Source:

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