​JOHANNESBURG (AP) — South Africa midfielder Jayden Adams, who featured at the World Cup, has died at age 25. The news was confirmed by Gayton McKenzie, South Africa’s minister of sport, arts and culture, in a statement issued on Saturday.
“It is with profound shock and a heavy heart that I have learnt of the passing of Jayden Adams, midfielder for Mamelodi Sundowns and Bafana Bafana, at the age of 25,” McKenzie posted on X. “South African football has lost one of its brightest young talents, and our nation mourns alongside his family, his teammates and the millions of supporters.”
Adams was part of the squad that helped South Africa advance to the World Cup knockout stage for the first time. Details surrounding his death have not yet been released. McKenzie noted that “the cause of Jayden’s passing has not yet been confirmed,” and he urged members of the media and the public to exercise restraint and compassion, and to refrain from speculation.
In the World Cup context, Adams started South Africa’s opening Group A match against the Czech Republic and was substituted at halftime. McKenzie revealed that he played that game just hours after learning of his grandmother’s death.
His club career included several seasons with Stellenbosch before he joined Mamelodi Sundowns last year, a period during which he helped the club win the CAF (African) Champions League this year.
The South African Football Players Union posted on X: “Death has cruelly stolen one of our own. It has robbed our nation of a remarkable footballer. We will forever remember his humility, his extraordinary talent and the pride with which he represented South Africa. Rest in eternal peace, Jayden. You will never be forgotten.”
Condolences also came from high profiles, including President Cyril Ramaphosa and the South African Federation of Trade Unions. This development adds another sorrowful chapter to South Africa’s football story, as the nation grapples with the loss of a gifted athlete who had already left an imprint on the international stage.
Note: Additional context and tributes continue to pour in from clubs, teammates, and fans, underscoring Adams’s impact on South African football and the global sport community. The football family will be watching closely for further statements regarding memorials or tributes in his honour.