France U20 Overview

Elyaz Zidane, son of French football icon Zinedine Zidane, is emerging as one of the brightest revelations of the U-20 World Cup in Chile. Playing at the heart of France’s defence, the 19-year-old has logged the most minutes in Bernard Diomede’s side, displaying composure and maturity that go beyond his age and the immense weight of his surname.

As our SA U20 side prepare to make World Cup history, we take a look at the difficult history of what came before, and the incredible talent that turned the team's fortunes around so much so they stand on the cusp of a quarterfinal at the global showpiece.

The Europeans secured the slim win over the African representatives courtesy of a late second-half goal in a game that was also characterised by a number of missed chances. Amajita's focus now shifts to the next match, where they will face the tournament's debutants in search of their first win in this year's edition.

Raymond Mdaka will be hoping the absence of his two key players will not be felt and his team will manage without them just as they did when they lifted the 2025 Africa Under-20 Cup of Nations. However, the two's exclusion shows how they have improved to be considered as having grown to be above the youth football tournament.