By Adegboyega Adeleye
Police in South Africa have launched an investigation into the death of Bafana Bafana midfielder Jayden Adams, just two weeks after he helped his country reach the FIFA World Cup knockout stage for the first time.
According to the Associated Press, the 25-year-old’s body was discovered on Saturday at a property in Cape Town’s Schotsche Kloof neighbourhood, with authorities confirming that the circumstances surrounding his death remain under investigation.
“Cape Town central police registered an inquest for investigation following the discovery of the body of a 25-year-old male on Saturday,” police said in a statement, adding that no cause of death has yet been established.
Father of the deceased, Juanito Adams, said the family was awaiting the outcome of an autopsy before making funeral arrangements.
“As you all know, it was an untimely death. The family is struggling to process it. It won’t be easy to carry on. People say it will become easier, but it won’t. You just learn to live with it,” he said.
The midfielder featured in all three of South Africa’s group-stage matches at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, helping Bafana Bafana qualify for the knockout rounds for the first time in the nation’s history. He did not play in the team’s 1-0 defeat to Canada in the Round of 32 on June 28.
South Africa’s Minister of Sports, Gayton McKenzie, urged the public to avoid speculation while investigations continue. He also revealed that Adams had shown remarkable resilience by playing against the Czech Republic only hours after learning of his grandmother’s death.
Tributes have continued to pour in following the midfielder’s passing, with moments of silence observed before the World Cup quarter-final matches between England and Norway and Argentina and Switzerland on Saturday.
Authorities have not announced when the results of the post-mortem examination will be released.
