As Bafana Bafana prepares for AFCON 2025 in Morocco, 20-year-old Tylon Smith is ready to prove he belongs.
Despite being a surprise inclusion with zero senior league minutes for Queens Park Rangers, the former Stellenbosch FC standout believes a strong tournament will finally earn him a spot in the QPR lineup.
Smith’s rise is fueled by sheer grit; as an academy player in Jamestown, he famously jogged 30 minutes to training when he lacked transport.
After being named Player of the Tournament at the U20 AFCON earlier this year, he secured a dream move to London.
“The coach [Julien Stéphan] likes my consistency,” Smith told ESPN. “I know I will get my chance—I think after this AFCON.”
