Jayden Adams: SAFA president Danny Jordaan recalls defining World Cup qualifying header in emotional tribute

SAFA president Dr Danny Jordaan has hailed Jayden Adams’ decisive headed goal in a 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Benin as the moment that, in his view, effectively booked Bafana Bafana’s place at the tournament.

Speaking at Adams’ funeral service at the Coetzenburg Centre in Stellenbosch at the weekend, Jordaan described the late midfielder’s performance in Abidjan in March 2025 as the standout memory he will carry of the former Mamelodi Sundowns and Stellenbosch player in a Bafana shirt.

Adams, affectionately known as “Grootman” and regarded as a quiet figure off the pitch, died recently at the age of 25. Many supporters have celebrated his rise to representing South Africa at the 2026 FIFA World Cup as the pinnacle of his career.

But for Jordaan, it was Adams’ contribution in the tense qualifier away to Benin – played amid the backdrop of a disciplinary threat from FIFA – that defined his impact on the national side.

World Cup place ‘secured’ in Abidjan

Jordaan explained that the match in Abidjan was seen within SAFA as the fixture that would determine whether South Africa reached the World Cup.

“One of the things that stood out for me, was when we were in Abidjan, to play against Benin. It was a World Cup qualifier (March 2025) and that match was going to seal the qualification of Bafana in the 2026 World Cup. Jayden was our midfielder,” he told mourners.

He stressed that Benin, rather than the more illustrious Nigeria, were regarded as Bafana Bafana’s main rivals in the group at that stage.

“That match, was the match, in my view, that closed out the possibility for Benin. Benin was the biggest threat, not Nigeria, therefore we understood that match we had to win,” Jordaan said.

He recalled how Adams’ close friends in the national team played key roles in the crucial victory.

“It was Jayden’s friend (Fawaaz) Basadien, who crossed the ball for Lyle Foster to score (the first goal),” Jordaan continued.

Adams’ decisive header

With Bafana still under pressure despite taking the lead, Jordaan said another of Adams’ friends, Oswin Appollis, then delivered the cross that set up the moment which, in his mind, settled South Africa’s World Cup participation.

“The team was still under pressure, then it was the other friend of Jayden, Oswin Appollis, who crossed the ball into the penalty box, now you know that Benin players are tall, they are giants but somehow Jayden ran into the penalty box and out-jumped them and scored a header, to secure a 2-0 victory for Bafana. That was the end of Benin. So we knew we’re going to go to the World Cup, whether they deduct the three points or not,” Jordaan fondly remembered.

The goal gave Bafana Bafana a 2-0 win and, in Jordaan’s assessment, ended Benin’s realistic hopes of overhauling South Africa in the group.

FIFA points-deduction threat

Jordaan’s tribute also placed Adams’ role in context of a period of uncertainty around South Africa’s qualification campaign.

He praised the midfielder’s contribution “in fighting for the national team to qualify for the World Cup” at a time when there were reports that South Africa could be docked points by FIFA.

Those concerns centred on allegations that Bafana Bafana had fielded an ineligible player, Teboho Mokoena, in the match against Lesotho, with particular attention on his involvement in the fixture against Benin.

Jordaan suggested that Adams’ header in Abidjan provided reassurance that, even if FIFA had imposed a three-point deduction, South Africa would still have been on course to reach the finals.

Football figures pay their respects

The funeral in Stellenbosch drew leading figures from across South African and African football, underlining the impact Adams made during a short career that took in spells at Stellenbosch and Mamelodi Sundowns, as well as with the national team.

Among those who joined Jordaan in paying their last respects on stage were Mamelodi Sundowns chairman Tlhopie Motsepe, CAF president Patrice Motsepe and Sport, Arts and Culture Minister Gayton McKenzie.

Their presence, alongside family, friends and former team-mates, formed part of a farewell that remembered Adams both as a talented midfielder who helped take Bafana Bafana to the World Cup and as a popular, understated figure in the dressing room known simply as “Grootman”.