South Africa national under-20 soccer team

National under-20 association soccer team representing South Africa

This article is about the men's team. For the women's team, see South Africa women's national under-20 soccer team.

South Africa under-20Nickname(s)| Amajita

|

Association| South African
Football Association
Confederation| CAF (Africa)
Sub-confederation| COSAFA
Head coach| Raymond Mdaka
Captain| Lefa Autata
FIFA code| RSA

First colours

Second colours

|

First international
South Africa 2–0 Swaziland
(Somhlolo, Swaziland; 11 December 1993)[1]
Biggest win
South Africa 8–0 Lesotho
(Moruleng, South Africa; 7 December 2016)
FIFA U-20 World Cup
Appearances| 4 (first in 1997)
Best result| Round of 16 (2009)
U-20 Africa Cup of Nations
Appearances| 8 (first in 1997)
Best result| Runners-Up (1997)
COSAFA U-20 Challenge Cup
Appearances| 21 (first in 1993)
Best result| Champions (2000), (2004),(2006),(2008),(2009),(2013),(2017), (2018), and (2024)

The South Africa national under-20 football team (Amajita), 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 U-20 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) and FIFA U-20 World Cup. The team has played at seven U-20 Africa Cup of Nations tournaments and three FIFA U-20 World Cups.

## History

[edit]

The team was started in 1993, when SAFA decided to form an under-20 team. The team's greatest achievements to date include a second-place finish at the 1997 African Youth Championship, hosted in Morocco and qualifying for the 1997, 2009 and 2017 FIFA U-20 World Cup and 2019 FIFA U-20 World Cup.[2][3]

In 2013, they won the 2013 COSAFA U-20 Cup with a 2–0 win against Kenya in the final held in Lesotho.[4]

In 2017, they won the 2017 COSAFA U-20 Cup with a 2–1 win against Lesotho in the final held in Zambia.[5]

In 2018, they won the 2018 COSAFA U-20 Cup against Zimbabwe 4-3 via penalties after the match ended in a 1–1 draw in Zambia.[6]

In 2024, they won their ninth COSAFA U-20 Cup after defeating Zambia 2–0 in the final.[7] They did not concede in the entire tournament and qualified for the 2025 U-20 Africa Cup of Nations.[8]

## Player eligibility

[edit]

Players who are selected, will be 20 or younger in the following World Cup year. With the next FIFA U-20 World Cup being held in Chile in 2025, players need to have been born on or after 1 January 2005.

## 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]

Zambia v  South Africa 5 October COSAFA U-20|  Zambia | 0-2|  South Africa | Matola, Mozambique

|
|
|
|

15:00 |  |  |

* Campbell 5'
* Ahshene 45'

| Stadium: Estádio da Matola Annex

Angola v  South Africa 3 October COSAFA U-20|  Angola | 0-1|  South Africa | Matola, Mozambique

|
|
|
|

12:00 |  |  |

* Ahshene 25'

| Stadium: Estádio da Matola Annex

Comoros v  South Africa 1 October COSAFA U-20|  Comoros | 0-2|  South Africa | Matola, Mozambique

|
|
|
|

15:00 |  |  |

* Mabena 46'
* Kgosana 83'

| Stadium: Estádio da Matola Annex

South Africa v  Lesotho 29 September COSAFA U-20|  South Africa | 6-0|  Lesotho | Matola, Mozambique

|
|
|
|

15:00 |

* Ahshene 17'
* Campbell 25', 75'
* Mofoko 42' (o.g.)
* Lethlaku 50'
* Timba 56'

|  |  | Stadium: Estádio da Matola Annex

South Africa v  Malawi 27 September COSAFA U-20|  South Africa | 5-0|  Malawi | Matola, Mozambique

|
|
|
|

15:00 |

* April 36', 45'
* Ahshene 49'
* Lethlaku 68'
* Mbokazi 74'

|  |  | Stadium: Estádio da Matola Annex

Lesotho v  South Africa 18 August Friendly|  Lesotho | 0-4|  South Africa | Maseru, Lesotho

|
|
|
|

|  |  |

* Bennet 8'
* Phili 13'
* April 25'
* Vilakazi 89'

| Stadium: Bambatha Tsita Sports Arena

Lesotho v  South Africa 16 August Friendly|  Lesotho | 1-3|  South Africa | Maseru, Lesotho

|
|
|
|

15:00 CAT |

* Maile 41'

|  |

* Vilakazi 20'
* Letlhaku 27'
* April 90'

| Stadium: Bambatha Tsita Sports Arena

## Current squad

[edit]

The following 20 players were selected for the 2024 COSAFA U-20 Cup held in Mozambique between 26 September – 5 October 2024:[11]

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

|
|
|
|

1  | 1GK | Fletcher Lowe |  |  Estoril Praia
2  | 1GK | Takalani Mazhamba |  |  Kaizer Chiefs
3  | 1GK | Kgoleng Ratisani |  |  Sekhukhune United
4  | 2DF | Mbekezele Mbokazi |  |  Orlando Pirates
5  | 2DF | Tylon Smith |  |  Stellenbosch F.C.
6  | 2DF | Gopolang Taunyana |  |  Kaizer Chiefs
7  | 2DF | Asekho Tiwani |  |  Mamelodi Sundowns
8  | 2DF | Sifiso Timba |  |  Kaizer Chiefs
9  | 3MF | Gomolemo Kekana |  |  Mamelodi Sundowns
10  | 3MF | Ofentse Kgosana |  |  Kaizer Chiefs
11  | 3MF | Mfundo Vilakazi |  |  Kaizer Chiefs
12  | 3MF | Siyabonga Mabena |  |  Mamelodi Sundowns
13  | 3MF | Lazola Maku |  |  SuperSport United
14  | 3MF | Shakeel April |  |  Cape Town City
15  | 3MF | Lefa Autata |  |  TS Galaxy F.C.
16  | 3MF | Shandre Campbell |  |  Club NXT
17  | 3MF | Xhosa Manyama |  |  Cape Town City
18  | 4FW | Emile Witbooi |  |  Cape Town City
19  | 4FW | Kutlwano Letlhaku |  |  Mamelodi Sundowns
20  | 4FW | Thabang Mahlangu |  |  SuperSport United

### Notable former players

[edit]

Players who have previously played for the under-20 team, and have since gone on to play for the senior team:

* Benni McCarthy
* Matthew Booth
* Thulani Serero
* Stanton Fredericks
* Thulani Hlatshwayo
* Darren Keet
* Andile Jali
* Junaid Hartley

## Tournament records

[edit]

### FIFA U-20 World Cup record

[edit]

U-20 World Cup

Hosts/Year  | Result  | Position  | GP  | W  | D*  | L  | GS  | GA
1977-1993 | Banned
1995 | did not qualify
1997 | Group Stage | 20th | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 6
1999 to 2007 | did not qualify
2009 | Round of 16 | 15th | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 8
2011 | did not qualify
2013
2015
2017 | Group Stage | 21st | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 4
2019 | Group Stage | 19th | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 7
2023 | did not qualify
2025 | to be determined
| Round of 16  | 4/24  | 13  | 1  | 4  | 8  | 11  | 25

### U-20 Africa Cup of Nations record

[edit]

U-20 Africa Cup of Nations

Hosts/Year  | Result  | GP  | W  | D*  | L  | GS  | GA
1979 to 1993 | did not enter
1995 | did not qualify
1997 | Second Place | 5 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 5
1999 | did not qualify
2001 | Group Stage | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 7
2003 | Group Stage | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 7
2005 | did not qualify
2007
2009 | Fourth Place | 5 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 8 | 9
2011 | Group Stage | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 6
2013 | did not qualify
2015 | Group Stage | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 6
2017 | Fourth Place | 5 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 10 | 9
2019 | Third Place | 5 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 2
2021 | did not qualify
2023
2025 | Qualified

### COSAFA U-20 Challenge Cup record

[edit]

COSAFA U-20 Challenge Cup

Hosts/Year  | Result  | GP  | W  | D*  | L  | GS  | GA
1983 to 1990 | did not enter
1993 | Quarter-finals | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 8 | 3
1995 | Second Place | 5 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 3
1997 | Unknown
1999 | Second Place | 6 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 15 | 6
2000 | Champions | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 7
2001 | Unknown
2002 | Unknown
2003 | Unknown
2004 | Champions | Unknown
2005 | Unknown
2006 | Champions | Unknown
2007 | Second Place | Unknown
2008 | Champions | Unknown
2009 | Champions | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 16 | 1
2010 | Group Stage | Unknown
2011 | Group Stage | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 6
2013 | Champions | 5 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 0
2016 | Second Place | 5 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 16 | 2
2017 | Champions | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 2
2018 | Champions | 5 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 2
2019 | Second Place | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 12 | 6
2020 | Group Stage | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 9 | 2
2022 | Third Place | 5 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 11 | 7
2024 | Champions | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 16 | 0

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Under-20 National Team". Retrieved 3 January 2011.
2. ^ "FIFA U-20 World Cup Korea Republic 2017™: South Africa". www.fifa.com. Retrieved 8 December 2023.
3. ^ "FIFA U-20 World Cup Poland 2019™: South Africa". www.fifa.com. Retrieved 8 December 2023.
4. ^ Namibian, The (15 December 2013). "SA win Cosafa U20 Champs". The Namibian. Retrieved 17 August 2024.
5. ^ Reporter, Sport (17 December 2017). "Amajita crowned 2017 COSAFA U-20 Champions". POWER 98.7. Retrieved 17 August 2024.
6. ^ "South Africa retain COSAFA Under-20 Championship title with shoot-out win". 13 December 2018. Retrieved 17 August 2024.
7. ^ "EN, FR, PR: South Africa claim ninth COSAFA Under-20 crown". 5 October 2024. Retrieved 5 October 2024.
8. ^ "Shandre Campbell shines as Afcon-bound South Africa are crowned Cosafa Under-20 champions | Goal.com South Africa". www.goal.com. 5 October 2024. Retrieved 5 October 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.
11. ^ "Mdaka names 20 men squad ahead of U20 AFCON qualifiers - SAFA.net". 17 September 2024. Retrieved 27 September 2024.

## External links

[edit]

* South Africa FA official website

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Soccer in South Africa

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| Men|

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|

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|

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|

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See also
Geography
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Women's football

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