Bafana Bafana and Mamelodi Sundowns are in mourning as World Cup midfielder Jayden Adams dies at 25

Heartbreaking quality has emerged for South African shot and for everyone who followed the 2026 World Cup. Jayden Adams, the Mamelodi Sundowns and Bafana Bafana midfielder, has died astatine the property of 25, conscionable days aft his information successful the tournament, according to reports published connected Saturday by the South African press.

The quality archetypal broke through Soccer Laduma connected Saturday morning. Neither Mamelodi Sundowns nor the South African Football Association person issued authoritative statements regarding the tragedy.

'He was truly affirmative astir returning aft the World Cup'

Brendine Johnson, Adams' mentor, spoke connected behalf of the household to Soccer Laduma to corroborate the quality and present a connection that reflected the grief of those closest to him.

'At this moment, things are inactive raw. The household wouldn't privation to beryllium contacted close now; they wouldn't beryllium capable to reply anyone. This passing has ripped everybody apart.' — Johnson.

'I had a adjacent speech with him connected Thursday. The feline was truly affirmative connected returning back, and being capable to instrumentality aft the World Cup and go, you know, being a CAF champion, knowing what lies ahead, helium was prepared. He doesn't discarded clip away, being astatine location with his family. So astatine this moment, I don't adjacent person words to say, but we inquire that the family's privateness beryllium respected.' — Johnson.

[BREAKING] Mamelodi Sundowns and Bafana Bafana World Cup midfielder, Jayden Adams, has died astatine the property of 25. Tune successful to #eNCA, transmission #DStv403. pic.twitter.com/Q74c0HflHE

Initial reports successful the South African property person suggested that Adams was dealing with depression, but caution is indispensable regarding the nonstop circumstances of his decease astatine this stage.

CAF champion and 3 World Cup appearances

Adams came done the academy astatine Stellenbosch FC earlier signing for Mamelodi Sundowns successful January 2025. He established himself arsenic a regular starter and played a important relation successful the club's CAF Champions League rubric triumph earlier this year.

An planetary since November 2023, Adams had earned 9 caps and scored 1 extremity for Bafana Bafana. He featured successful each 3 of South Africa's group-stage matches astatine the 2026 World Cup, starting the opening fixture against Mexico (0-2) and the gully with the Czech Republic (1-1), earlier remaining connected the seat successful the circular of 32 decision to Canada (0-1).

The full South African shot assemblage and the wider African crippled mourn the nonaccomplishment of a subordinate who had conscionable experienced the top infinitesimal of his nonrecreational life.