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Adams faces race against time

November 13, 2025

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Soccer Laduma

Jayden Adams' international future hangs in the balance, and the countdown has officially begun. With just one month remaining before Hugo Broos finalises his squad for the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations, the 24-year-old midfielder finds himself in a position few would have predicted two years ago. Once a rising star of Stellenbosch FC and a standout performer at the 2023 AFCON in Ivory Coast, Adams now faces the harsh reality of reduced game time at Mamelodi Sundowns and uncertainty around his Bafana Bafana role. The player who earned his way into Broos' plans through hard work and consistency has slipped into unfamiliar territory at club level, and his national team prospects have dimmed as a result. The Siya crew has been tracking his situation closely, uncovering worrying signs behind the scenes as Adams fights to keep his AFCON dream alive.

With just one month to go before Hugo Broos finalises his squad for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, the situation around Jayden Adams has become increasingly uncertain. Siya insiders, who have closely monitored the midfielder's situation at Mamelodi Sundowns, have painted a worrying picture of a player who now finds himself on the periphery of both club and country despite once being regarded as one of South Africa's brightest midfield prospects.

Two years ago, Adams was a rising star; first at Stellenbosch FC, then under the bright lights of the AFCON stage in Ivory Coast. His performances earned him a big move to Mamelodi Sundowns, and Bafana Bafana finally had another energetic, press-resistant midfielder capable of connecting phases and breaking lines with both intelligence and intensity. But the Siya crew has been told that not everything has gone according to plan.

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