South Africa World Cup midfielder Jayden Adams dies aged 25

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa (AFP) — Jayden Adams, the South African midfielder who featured for his nation at the World Cup still under way, has died at 25, Sports Minister Gayton McKenzie confirmed Saturday.

"It is with profound shock and a heavy heart that I have learnt of the passing of Jayden Adams," McKenzie said in a statement. He gave no cause of death. "South African football has lost one of its brightest young talents," he added.

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) issued its own tribute on X, stating: "Football has lost one of its own."

Authorities said an inquiry was under way after the body of a 25-year-old man was discovered Saturday morning at a residence in Schotschekloof, a neighbourhood in central Cape Town. "Circumstances surrounding this incident are under investigation," Western Cape police spokesperson FC van Wyk told AFP.

Adams started all three of South Africa’s group fixtures at the tournament as Bafana Bafana advanced to the Round of 32 for the first time. He was unused in the knockout loss to Canada. He had earlier been in the national side that took third place at the 2024 Africa Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast.

A Cape Town native, Adams progressed through the Stellenbosch FC academy and, in August 2020, became the club’s first academy product to earn a professional deal. He logged 139 games for the Cape Winelands club and contributed to its 2023 Carling Knockout triumph before moving to Mamelodi Sundowns in January 2025. With Sundowns he collected a Premiership championship and a CAF Champions League title.

His death followed by under a month that of his grandmother, which came on the night before South Africa’s Group A meeting with Czechia at Atlanta Stadium. "Jayden started in the match against Czechia and gave his all while carrying the burden of losing his grandmother," the South African Football Association said then.