South Africa is grieving the sudden death of Bafana Bafana midfielder Jayden Adams, who died on Saturday at the age of 25, just weeks after representing his country at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Police confirmed that the body of a 25-year-old man was found at a house in Schotschekloof, a suburb in central Cape Town, on Saturday morning.
"Circumstances surrounding this incident are under investigation," Western Cape police spokesperson FC van Wyk told AFP.
South Africa Sports Minister Gayton McKenzie announced the death with visible shock.
"It is with profound shock and a heavy heart that I have learnt of the passing of Jayden Adams. South African football has lost one of its brightest young talents," he said, without disclosing the cause of death.
Adams had played in all three of South Africa's group-stage matches at the 2026 World Cup as Bafana Bafana reached the Round of 32 for the first time in their history, though he did not feature in their knockout defeat by Canada.
He was also part of the squad that finished third at the 2024 Africa Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast.
Born in Cape Town, Adams came through the Stellenbosch FC academy and became the club's first youth graduate to sign a professional contract in August 2020.
He made 139 appearances for the Cape Winelands side and helped them win the Carling Knockout in 2023 before joining Mamelodi Sundowns in January 2025, where he added a Premiership title and a CAF Champions League crown to his honours.
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His death came less than a month after losing his grandmother on the eve of South Africa's group match against 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.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino said he was "so incredibly sad" at the news, extending condolences to Adams' family, friends and teammates on behalf of the global football community.
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa paid tribute alongside that of former Springbok Under-18 prop Luqobo Makwedini, 20, who also died recently.
"It is particularly tragic that we are suffering the loss of two outstanding, young athletes at a time when our nation continues to immerse itself in the FIFA World Cup tournament.
"We are grateful for the joy and victories Jayden and Luqobo have given us and their teams as they lived their dreams and held South Africa's name high," Ramaphosa said.
The South African Football Players Union described the loss as cruel.
"Death has robbed our nation of a remarkable footballer, but it will never take away the legacy Jayden Adams leaves behind. We will forever remember his humility, his extraordinary talent and the pride with which he represented South Africa."
CAF added simply on X: "Football has lost one of its own."
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