South African football is in a good place right now. In 2024, the Bafana Bafana got to the semi finals of the Africa Cup of Nations for the first time in 24 years, and they look like they’ll be heading to the World Cup for the first time since they hosted the competition 15 years ago now.
But while the present is looking great, the future looks even brighter, and you’ll see why we say that in this article as we look at the best South African players aged 23 or under in 2025.
- Jayden Adams
The Capetown-born Mamelodi Sundowns midfielder is one for the present and the future. He has made a couple appearances for the Bafana Bafana so far, but he is expected to be even more involved in the coming years with the likes of Percy Tau and Teboho Mokoena seemingly in the twilight of their careers.
Adams recently scored the clinching goal in the 2-nil win against Benin Republic to solidify South Africa’s place at the top of their World Cup qualifying group, and give them a real chance of making it to the showdown in North America next year.
If South Africa actually makes it to the 2026 World Cup in the US, Canada, and Mexico, one would expect Adams to be on the plane with the squad. But well, Bafana Bafana would have to wrap up qualification first. If you want to bet on them making it to the World Cup for the first time in 16 years, you can register with Hollywoodbets and go ahead to place your wager there.
- Relebohile Mofokeng
This 20-year-old Orlando Pirates wonderkid is really the future of South African football. He received his first senior team call up in June 2024 and went on to score his first goal for South Africa in a World Cup qualifier against neighboring rivals Lesotho in March 2025.
That day was really the day for youngsters as Jayden Adams also found the back of the net in that game.
Oh, and Mofokeng is also very versatile. He can play as a winger and also as a midfielder.
- Oswin Appollis
Here, we have another Capetown-born kid. He currently plays for Polokwane City and can play as a winger or a midfielder.
He was part of the squad that finished 3rd at the 2023 AFCON and he even made an appearance in the third-place playoff.
Since then, his first team minutes have grown, and he has made sure to reward the coach’s trust in him with goal contributions. He was directly involved in 6 goals in 6 AFCON qualifier appearances and has been involved in one goal in two World Cup qualifier appearances.
No doubt, the 23-year-old will be a part of the squad heading to Morocco for the 2025 AFCON at the end of the year. And if South Africa do make it to the World Cup, he’ll surely be there as well.