South Africa has announced that Bafana Bafana midfielder, Jayden Adams, who represented the nation at the 2026 World Cup died on Saturday at the age of 25.

In a statement announcing Adams’ sudden death, South Africa Sports Minister Gayton McKenzie said: “It is with profound shock and a heavy heart that I have learnt of the passing of Jayden Adams.”

McKenzie, however, failed to disclose the cause of the midfielder’s death but said: “South African football has lost one of its brightest young talents.”

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) also paid tribute, saying on X: “Football has lost one of its own.”

Police said they had opened an investigation after 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.

Adams played in all three of South Africa’s group-stage matches at the World Cup, as Bafana Bafana reached the Round of 32 for the first time, but did not feature in the knockout defeat by Canada.

He was also part of the South Africa squad that finished third at the 2024 Africa Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino said he was “so incredibly sad to hear” that Adams had passed away just weeks after featuring in his nation’s historic World Cup campaign.

“My thoughts and condolences, as well as those of everyone at FIFA and the global football community, are with his family, friends and teammates,” Infantino said in a statement.

South Africa President Cyril Ramaphosa also expressed his deep condolences at the passing of two outstanding young sportsmen, Bafana Bafana and Mamelodi Sundowns midfielder, Adams and former South African Rugby Under-18 prop Luqobo Makwedini.

“President Ramaphosa offers his deep condolences to the families of Jayden Adams and Luqobo Makwedini who have passed away at the age of 25 and 20 respectively,” a statement read.

“The President’s thoughts are with Jayden’s teammates in Bafana Bafana and Mamelodi Sundowns, as well as Luqobo Makwedini’s former SA Under-18 teammates and his club colleagues in France.”

President Ramaphosa said: “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, as well as the Springboks’ and Springbok Women’s matches against Scotland and the USA Eagles in Pretoria today.

“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 on the scoreboards of global sport. May their souls rest in peace.”

Reacting, South African Football Players Union (SAFPU) wrote: “Death has cruelly stolen one of our own. It 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. Rest in eternal peace, Jayden. You will never be forgotten”

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 went on to make 139 appearances for the Cape Winelands side and helped them win the Carling Knockout in 2023 before joining Mamelodi Sundowns in January 2025.

At Sundowns, the midfielder added a Premiership title and a CAF Champions League crown to his list of honours.

His death comes less than a month after the passing of his grandmother, on the eve of South Africa’s Group A 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 at the time.