World Cup in shock as South Africa star Jayden Adams star found dead at age 25

Just three weeks after representing South Africa in the World Cup, midfielder Jayden Adams has died in a tragedy that has rocked his nation and drawn condolences from around the globe.

The 25-year-old was found at a house in central Cape Town on Saturday, with South African police saying they are investigating the death of Adams, the BBC reported. The cause of his death has not yet been released.

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Adams, who played for the Mamelodi Sundowns, featured in all three round-robin matches for South Africa and started in a match against the Czech Republic just hours after learning of the death of his grandmother midway through the tournament.

FIFA president Gianni Infantino was among those to express their sadness for the death of Adams, with the news breaking just hours before England was due to play Norway in a quarterfinal of the tournament hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada.

“It’s so incredibly sad to hear that South Africa midfielder Jayden Adams has passed away just weeks after featuring in his nation’s historic Fifa World Cup campaign,” he said in a statement.

“My thoughts and condolences, as well as those of everyone at Fifa and the global football community, are with his family, friends and team-mates. The Bafana Bafana and Mamelodi Sundowns star will be sorely missed. May he rest in peace.”

The South African Football Players Union said it was devastated by the death of a player who had represented his nation with “pride, courage and distinction”.

“His passing is an immeasurable loss to his family, team-mates, clubs, the football fraternity and the country at large,” the body said in a statement.

“South African football has lost a gifted player, a proud servant of the game and a young life that still had so much to offer.”

The nation’s Minister for Sport Gayton McKenzie was among those to offer condolences, saying Adams had provided joy for his country.

“It is with profound shock and a heavy heart that I have learnt of the passing of Jayden Adams, midfielder for Mamelodi Sundowns and Bafana Bafana, at the age of 25,” The Guardian reported.

“South African football has lost one of its brightest young talents, and our nation mourns alongside his family, his teammates and the millions of supporters who watched him grow from a promising academy prospect into a full Bafana Bafana international.”

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