South Africa’s Under-15 boys team delivered a memorable win on Monday by beating France 3-2 in a five-goal thriller at the inaugural FIFA U15 Boys World Cup and Festival in Baku, Azerbaijan.

The match formed part of the group stage of the new competition, which FIFA introduced to give young players early experience of international football. South Africa, coached by Selekedi Mogale, went into the fixture in Group A alongside France, Estonia, Kosovo, Maldives and Anguilla.

The Mzansi boys had already shown their attacking quality earlier in the tournament. They opened with an 8-0 win over Maldives, then lost 2-1 to Kosovo before bouncing back with a 13-1 victory against Anguilla. Those results left them well placed in the group, and the clash against France was always going to be a tough test against one of Europe’s strongest youth sides.

Monday’s game lived up to the billing. Both teams traded goals in an open contest that produced five goals in total. South Africa held their nerve to come out on top 3-2, securing a result that will boost confidence in the camp and among supporters back home.

The win highlights the progress of South African youth football. Several players in the squad had already gained experience on a recent tour of Germany, where the wider youth group recorded positive results against European opposition. At the FIFA event, the team has continued to score freely while competing against a mix of nations from different continents.

Coach Mogale and his players now look ahead to the remaining matches and the placement games that follow the group stage. The tournament continues until 30 October at the Hovsan Competition Complex, with the focus on development as much as results.

For South African football fans, the 3-2 victory over France stands as a clear highlight of the inaugural competition. It shows that the country’s young talent can compete with and beat traditional powerhouses when given the platform. The boys in yellow and green have given the nation another reason to watch the rest of the event with pride.

Source: https://x.com/iDiskiTimes/status/2114735732875296958