South Africa national under-17 soccer team

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South Africa under-17Nickname(s)| Amajimbos

|

Association| South African
Football Association
Confederation| CAF (Africa)
Sub-confederation| COSAFA
Head coach|  Vela Khumalo
Captain| Bokamoso Mokokosi
Most caps| Thamsanqa Ayanda Juqu
Top scorer| Siyabonga Mabena
(9 goals)
Home stadium| FNB Stadium
FIFA code| RSA

First colours

Second colours

|

Biggest win
South Africa 4–0  Lesotho
(16 August 2024)
Biggest defeat
Senegal 5–0  South Africa
(10 May 2023)
Africa U-17 Cup of Nations
Appearances| 4 (first in 2005)
Best result|  Runners-Up (2015)
COSAFA Under-17 Championship
Appearances| 7 (first in 1994)
Best result|  Champions (1994), (2002), and (2020)
FIFA U-17 World Cup
Appearances| 1 (first in 2015)
Best result| Group Stage (2015)
Website| https://www.safa.net/

The South Africa national under-17 football team (Amajimbos), is a youth football (soccer) team, which represents South Africa and is controlled by the South African Football Association, the governing body for football in South Africa. The team's main objectives are to qualify and play at the Africa U-17 Cup of Nations and FIFA U-17 World Cup and develop the players for the main national team Bafana Bafana.[1]

## History

[edit]

The team was started in 1993, when the SAFA decided to form an under-17 team. The team's greatest achievement to date include a second-place finish at the 2015 African U-17 Championship, hosted in Niger and qualifying for the 2015 FIFA U-17 World Cup in Chile.[2]

In 2024, they were invited to play at the FIFA U/16 Talent Development Scheme Tournament held in Ivory Coast. The team finished with 2 wins and 1 loss.[3][4][5]

### COSAFA U-17 Cup

[edit]

They won the 2020 COSAFA U-17 Cup 4-2 via penalties after the match ended in a 1-1 draw against Zambia.[6]

At the 2022 COSAFA U-17 Challenge Cup, they lost 1-0 in the final to Zambia.[7]

## Current squad

[edit]

The following 20 players were selected for the 2024 COSAFA Under-17 Championship held in South Africa between 4–13 December 2024:[8]

No. | Pos. | Player  | Date of birth (age)  | Club

|
|
|
|

1  | 1GK | Lwandiso Radebe |  (2009-03-23)23 March 2009 (aged 15)  |  SuperSport United
2  | 2DF | Sive Pama |  (2008-05-21)21 May 2008 (aged 16)  |  Cape Town City
3  | 2DF | Ziyanda Mchunu |  (2008-04-25)25 April 2008 (aged 16)  |  Kaizer Chiefs Development
4  | 2DF | Hayden Booysen |  (2009-06-04)4 June 2009 (aged 15)  |  Ubuntu Football Academy
5  | 2DF | Bokamoso Mokokosi |  (2008-04-11)11 April 2008 (aged 16)  |  Kaizer Chiefs Development
6  | 3MF | Kamohelo Maraletse |  (2008-09-21)21 September 2008 (aged 16)  |  Mamelodi Sundowns Academy
7  | 3MF | Selwyn Stevens |  (2008-02-15)15 February 2008 (aged 16)  |  Mamelodi Sundowns Academy
8  | 3MF | Royce Malatji |  (2008-05-31)31 May 2008 (aged 16)  |  Kaizer Chiefs Development
9  | 4FW | Aphelele Majola |  (2010-01-22)22 January 2010 (aged 14)  |  Mamelodi Sundowns Academy
10  | 3MF | Emile Witbooi |  (2008-08-28)28 August 2008 (aged 16)  |  Cape Town City
11  | 3MF | Simphiwe Mlondo |  |  Mamelodi Sundowns Academy
12  | 3MF | Lebogang Dhlamini |  |  Kaizer Chiefs Development
13  | 3MF | Omphemetse Sekgoto |  (2010-03-11)11 March 2010 (aged 14)  |  Mamelodi Sundowns Academy
14  | 1GK | Lehlohonolo Mosia |  (2009-08-15)15 August 2009 (aged 15)  |  Tuks
15  | 4FW | Neo Bohloko |  (2008-04-01)1 April 2008 (aged 16)  |  Kaizer Chiefs Development
16  | 1GK | Luke Holden |  (2008-10-01)1 October 2008 (aged 16)  |  Mamelodi Sundowns Academy
17  | 2DF | Tashiel Rugunanan |  |  Kaizer Chiefs Development
18  | 3MF | Teboho Mlangeni |  (2008-09-21)21 September 2008 (aged 16)  |  Kaizer Chiefs Development
19  | 4FW | Nkanyiso Maqasha |  (2010-01-01)1 January 2010 (aged 14)  |  Mamelodi Sundowns Academy
20  | 2DF | Khayalethu Mzimela |  (2008-01-07)7 January 2008 (aged 16)  |  British Football Academy

## Results and fixtures

[edit]

The following is a list of match results in the last 12 months, as well as any future matches that have been scheduled.[9][10]

Legend

Win Draw Loss Fixture

### 2024

[edit]

South Africa v  Mauritius 9 December COSAFA U-17|  South Africa | v|  Mauritius | Johannesburg, South Africa

|
|
|
|

15:00 |  |  |  | Stadium: UJ Stadium Auckland Park

South Africa v  Comoros 7 December COSAFA U-17|  South Africa | v|  Comoros | Johannesburg, South Africa

|
|
|
|

15:00 |  |  |  | Stadium: UJ Stadium Auckland park

South Africa v  Botswana 5 December COSAFA U-17|  South Africa | v|  Botswana | Johannesburg, South Africa

|
|
|
|

15:00 |  |  |  | Stadium: UJ Stadium Auckland Park

Morocco v  South Africa 7 September FIFA U/16 TDS|  Morocco | 1-0|  South Africa | Bingerville, Ivory Coast

|
|
|
|

|  |  |  | Stadium: Stade Municipal

South Africa v  Tanzania 5 September FIFA U/16 TDS|  South Africa | 1-1
(4-3 p)|  Tanzania | Bingerville, Ivory Coast

|
|
|
|

* Bohloko 90+'

|  |  | Stadium: Stade Municipal

Algeria v  South Africa 3 September FIFA U/16 TDS|  Algeria | 4-7|  South Africa | Bingerville, Ivory Coast

|
|
|
|

|  |  |

* Stevens 8' 90+'
* Bohloko 40' 57'
* Pama 43'
* Witbooi 59' 69'

| Stadium: Stade Municipal

South Africa v  Lesotho 18 August Friendly|  South Africa | 3-1|  Lesotho | Soweto, South Africa

|
|
|
|

* Bohloko 45'
* Dlamini 59'
* Witbooi 61'

|  |

* Skhosana 35'

| Stadium: UJ Soweto Stadium

South Africa v  Lesotho 16 August Friendly|  South Africa | 4-0|  Lesotho | Soweto, South Africa

|
|
|
|

15:00 CAT |

* Pama 10'
* Stevens 21'
* Mhlangeni 26'
* Mgoqi 62'

|  |  | Stadium: UJ Soweto Stadium

Colombia v  South Africa 24 April Friendly|  Colombia | 2-1|  South Africa | Palmira, Colombia

|
|
|
|

* Martinezx2

|  |

* Bohloko

| Stadium: Estadio Francisco Rivera Escobar

Colombia v  South Africa 22 April Friendly|  Colombia | 2-2|  South Africa | Palmira, Colombia

|
|
|
|

15:00 UTC+2 |

* Mendez 79'
* Herazo 90'

|  |

* Mendes 33'
* Lonzi 24'

| Stadium: Estadio Francisco Rivera Escobar

## Competitive record

[edit]

### FIFA U-17 World Cup record

[edit]

| FIFA U-17 World Cup Record

Hosts/Year  | Round | GP | W | D | L  | GS | GA
1985 | Banned
1987
1989
1991
1993
1995 | Did not qualify
1997
1999
2001
2003
2005
2007
2009
2011
2013
2015 | Group Stage | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 5
2017 | Did not qualify
2019
~~2021~~ | Cancelled
2023 | Did not qualify
2025 | To be determined
Total | Group Stage | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 5

### U-17 Africa Cup of Nations record

[edit]

| U-17 Africa Cup of Nations

Hosts/Year  | Round | GP | W | D | L  | GS | GA
1995 | Did not qualify
1997
1999
2001
2003
2005 | Fourth Place | 5 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 8 | 6
2007 | Group Stage | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 5
2009 | Did not qualify
2011
2013
2015 | Runners-up | 5 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 8 | 7
2017 | Did not qualify
2019
~~2021~~ |  Cancelled
2023 | Quarter-finals | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 5 | 12
2025 | To be determined
Total | Runners-up | 17 | 6 | 4 | 7 | 26 | 30

### COSAFA U-17 Championship

[edit]

COSAFA U-17 Challenge Cup record

Year  | Round  | Pld | W | D*  | L | GS | GA | GD
2016 | Runners-Up | 5 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 11 | 1 | +10
2017 | Fourth place | 5 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 11 | 11 | 0
2018 | Runners-Up | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 8 | 3 | +5
2019 | Group Stage | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 11 | +19
2020 | Champions | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 6 | +1
2021 | Did not participate
2022 | Runners-Up | 5 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 17 | 3 | +14
Total |  | 28 | 16 | 3 | 8 | 55 | 35  |

## See also

[edit]

* Bafana Bafana (South Africa national football team)
* Amajita (South Africa national under-20 football team)
* Amaglug-glug (South Africa national under-23 football team)
* Amabinneplaas (South Africa national development football team)
* Africa U-17 Cup of Nations

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "SA U17 team ultimate aim is to qualify for FIFA World Cup - SABC News - Breaking news, special reports, world, business, sport coverage of all South African current events. Africa's news leader". 18 April 2023. Retrieved 24 December 2023.
2. ^ "FIFA U-17 World Cup Chile 2015™: South Africa". www.fifa.com. Retrieved 8 December 2023.
3. ^ Gcwabe, Ongama (31 August 2024). "SuperSport Schools Plus | Amajimbos jet off to Fifa u17 TDS Nations Tournament". SuperSport Schools Plus. Retrieved 7 September 2024.
4. ^ Pongco, Siya (6 September 2024). "SuperSport Schools Plus | Amajimbos win again in Côte d'Ivoire". SuperSport Schools Plus. Retrieved 7 September 2024.
5. ^ "Vela Khumalo lauds the preparation of Amajimbos as the project starts to take shape | soccer". SABC. 17 August 2024. Retrieved 3 December 2024.
6. ^ "EN, FR, PR: South Africa win COSAFA Qualifiers for TOTAL U-17 AFCON, Morocco 2021!". 29 November 2020. Retrieved 3 December 2024.
7. ^ Kanjere, Peter (12 December 2022). "COSAFA Championship joy for SA girls, heartbreak for Amajimbos". FARPost. Retrieved 3 December 2024.
8. ^ "Coach Khumalo names final Amajimbos squad for COSAFA Youth Championships - SAFA.net". 29 November 2024. Retrieved 3 December 2024.
9. ^ Ndubane, Khaya (23 April 2024). "Khumalo proud of Amajimbos after draw with Colombia". The Citizen. Retrieved 25 April 2024.
10. ^ "MSN". www.msn.com. Retrieved 25 April 2024.

## External links

[edit]

* South Africa FA official website

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