South Africa’s Under-20 men’s water polo team clinched a narrow victory over New Zealand on Friday morning at the 2025 U20 World Championships in Zagreb, Croatia.
Team SA edges New Zealand in nail-biting water polo match
The match, a classification game for final rankings, ended in a dramatic penalty shootout after regular play concluded in a tie.
The clash between South Africa and New Zealand was closely contested from start to finish. Both teams were evenly matched through all four quarters, with each side scoring 3 goals in the first, 4 in the second, 3 in the third, and another 3 in the fourth.
This brought the total score to 15-15 at the end of regular time.
As per tournament rules, the game progressed to a penalty shootout, referred to as PSO (Penalty Shoot-Out), when teams are tied and no extra time (ET) is played.
South Africa emerged victorious with a final shootout score of 3-2, bringing the overall score to 16-15.
South Africa’s squad featured a lineup of young talent, including goalkeeper Nathan Jacob, aged 19, and key drivers like Connor Flinn, David Johnson, and Karabo Mamaregane.
The team demonstrated strategic play and resilience throughout the match.
New Zealand’s team was equally competitive, with players such as Zach Martin (goalkeeper), Cole Phillips (centre/back), and Ashwyn Keshvara (wing) making notable contributions.
What happens next?
This win was part of a series of classification matches determining the final rankings of teams not progressing to the medal rounds. The tournament, hosted at the SP Mladost Pool in Zagreb from 14 to 21 June 2025, features national teams from across five continents, including powerhouses like Hungary, the USA, and Australia.
South Africa’s performance in this match positions them for a favourable ranking placement within the final classification. The team now prepares for its next match scheduled for the final day of the competition, which will determine their exact ranking between 13th and 20th place depending on outcomes across other games.
The 2025 U20 Water Polo World Championships are organised by World Aquatics and the Croatian Water Polo Federation. Held at the SP Mladost pool in Zagreb, the venue is known for hosting top-tier water polo events.
A total of 20 national teams are participating in this year’s competition, representing regions including Europe, Asia, Africa, the Americas, and Oceania.
The championships serve as a development platform for future professional and Olympic-level athletes, providing exposure to international competition and showcasing emerging talent.
