U20 AFCON: South Africa Seeks Club Brugge’s Approval For Star Player’s Release For Flying Eagles

U20 AFCON: South Africa Seeks Club Brugge’s Approval For Star Player’s Release For Flying Eagles

Sampson Adedeji

South Africa U20 head coach Raymond Ndaka has confirmed ongoing discussions with Belgian club Club Brugge regarding the release of star player Shandre Campbell for the upcoming U20 African Cup of Nations (AFCON), BSNSports.com.ng reports.

Campbell played a crucial role in South Africa’s qualification for the tournament, making him a key figure in the squad.

However, Club Brugge initially declined the request for his release. Despite this, Ndaka revealed on Monday that negotiations have resumed.

“We have been in positive discussions with Club Brugge regarding Shandre [Campbell],” Ndaka stated in a post-match interview with Football Stage.

 “Shandre was part of our first camp when we started building the team. When we travelled to Lesotho, he had just begun playing in Belgium, so we opted not to include him in that squad to allow him time to settle with his new club. Since it was only a friendly match, we decided to bring him back for the 2024 COSAFA U-20 Championships, and we succeeded in doing so.

 "Right now, our senior team manager is in talks with Club Brugge. Based on our agreement, we expect to have Shandre and Lowe [Fletcher] available for AFCON.”

The U20 AFCON tournament, featuring 13 nations, is set to begin next month as teams compete for the continental title. South Africa will play in group B alongside Nigeria, Egypt and Morocco.