Jayden Adams, player of the South African national team and Mamelodi Sundowns club, died at the age of 25, a few days after participating with the "Bafana Bafana" team in the 2026 World Cup tournament.
South African Sports Minister Gayton McKenzie announced the player's death today, Saturday, expressing his sadness over the departure of one of the most prominent young talents in South African football.
McKenzie said in a statement: "I received with deep shock and great sadness the news of Jayden Adams' death", adding: "South African football has lost one of its most prominent young talents."
The South African Sports Minister did not reveal the cause of death.
In the same context, the South African police announced the opening of an investigation after finding the body of a 25-year-old man inside a house in the Schotchekloof area in the center of Cape Town city, on Saturday morning.
The regional police spokesman said, in statements reported by the "France Press" agency: "The circumstances of this incident are still under investigation."
Adams participated in all three South African national team matches in the group stage of the 2026 World Cup, before being absent from the match against Canada in the round of 32.
The player's death comes less than a month after the death of his grandmother, who passed away on the eve of South Africa's match against the Czech Republic in the group stage of the tournament.
The South African Football Association had praised the player at the time, saying: "Jayden participated as a starter against the Czech Republic, and gave everything he had despite the grief he was carrying after his grandmother's death."
