Shandre Campbell returns to South Africa U23 squad as Mdaka outlines attacking plans

South Africa U23 coach Raymond Mdaka says Shandre Campbell’s versatility will be central to his attacking approach as the winger returns for the Olympic Games qualifiers against Madagascar.

Campbell is working with Mdaka again for the first time since helping South Africa win the COSAFA Cup in 2023. The 20-year-old has continued to develop at club level and recently made an impression with Bafana Bafana.

He was released to the U23 squad after representing the senior national team during the previous international break. Campbell provided the assist in Bafana Bafana’s 1-0 victory over Egypt.

Mdaka believes Campbell’s ability to operate in different attacking roles, combined with the flexibility of his team-mates, gives South Africa more options in the final third.

“I have been with Shandre since our COSAFA years, that’s correct, we know him well. What we have done as a technical team; most of our attackers, who can play as wings or 10s, Mfundo [Vilakazi] plays at Chiefs as a winger, we play him 10 at times,” he explained.

“We have Kutlwano [Letlaku] who plays as a winger at Sundowns, sometimes we play him at 10, we then have Shandre, it helps in terms of movements up front – to say at any moment, we can interchange in attack – they can always give us results.”

Campbell’s return gives Mdaka another attacking option as he seeks to build a fluid forward line capable of challenging Madagascar and moving South Africa closer to their Olympic qualification ambitions.

The coach, who guided Amajita to an AFCON title, is drawing on his previous understanding of Campbell while also looking to make use of the varied positions available across the squad.