South Africa Under-20 coach Raymond Mdaka insists they are ready for the 2025 U-20 Africa Cup of Nations ahead of their opener against Egypt at the Cairo International Stadium on Sunday, April 27.

Kick-off is at 8pm CAT (SA, GMT+2)

Amajita have already had plenty of setbacks in the lead up to the tournament in Egypt, with Mdaka having to tweak his squad at the 11th hour due to the unavailability of key players.

Siyabonga Mabena was ruled out through injury and Club Brugge refused to release Shandre Campbell, while Orlando Pirates also opted to keep hold of Mbekezeli Mbokazi as they were still chasing silverware on three fronts.

Ivory Coast’s withdrawal as AFCON hosts on March 26 also affected Mdaka’s preparations as a friendly with Congo had to be scrapped after the showpiece was shifted to North Africa.

Mdaka’s side beat Sekhukhune United reserves 5-0 on Tuesday, one day before they jetted off to Cairo, and the former Marumo Gallants coach admitted he would have loved to play one more game before the spectacle kicked off.

“Earlier on, we had prepared for that and it’s something that we would have loved to have but as a coach, you must know you are always on your toes and the technical team and the boys know that once things change, you immediately adjust,” Mdaka said.

“In the initial preparation, we were supposed to play Congo before, but they also changed because it also affected them to say, the tournament now is no more in Ivory Coast, it’s in Egypt, so we can’t be able to play the match.

“We would have loved to have an extra match, hence even the match that we’re playing (against Sekhukhune United) we wanted a team that, in the look of things, is in a better level compared to the boys because we wanted the physical challenge and mental challenges that you find with the seniors.

“It’s something that we would have loved to honestly but we’re fine with where we are so far.”