South Africa national under-20 soccer team

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See also: South Africa women's national under-20 soccer team

South Africa under-20

Nickname(s)| Amajita (The Boys)
Association| South African
Football Association
Confederation| CAF (Africa)
Sub-confederation| COSAFA
Head coach| Vacant
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)

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 African Youth Championship and FIFA U-20 World Cup. The team has played at seven African Youth Championships 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]

## 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 Poland in 2019, players need to have been born on or after 1 January 1999.

## Schedule and recent results[edit]

The following is a list of matches from the past twenty-four months, as well as any future matches that have been scheduled.

Date  | Team  | Result  | Score  | Competition  | Location

|
|
|
|
|

12 December 2016  |  Botswana | W  | 1-0  | 2016 COSAFA U-20 Cup |  Moruleng Stadium, Moruleng, South Africa
14 December 2016  |  Angola | W  | 5-0  | 2016 COSAFA U-20 Cup Semi-final |  Moruleng Stadium, Moruleng, South Africa
16 December 2016  |  Zambia | W  | 2-1  | 2016 COSAFA U-20 Cup Final |  Moruleng Stadium, Moruleng, South Africa
12 February 2017  |  Zambia | L  | 1-2  | Friendly |  Nkoloma Stadium, Lusaka, Zambia
19 February 2017  |  Mali | D  | 1-1  | Friendly |  Peter Mokaba Stadium, Limpopo, South Africa
27 February 2017  |  Cameroon | W  | 3-1  | 2017 Africa U-20 Cup of Nations |  Levy Mwanawasa Stadium, Ndola, Zambia
2 March 2017  |  Senegal | L  | 3-4  | 2017 Africa U-20 Cup of Nations |  Levy Mwanawasa Stadium, Ndola, Zambia
5 March 2017  |  Sudan | W  | 3-1  | 2017 Africa U-20 Cup of Nations |  Levy Mwanawasa Stadium, Ndola, Zambia
8 March 2017  |  Zambia | L  | 0-1 (a.e.t.)  | 2017 Africa U-20 Cup of Nations Semi-final |  National Heroes Stadium, Lusaka, Zambia
12 March 2017  |  Guinea | L  | 1-2  | 2017 Africa U-20 Cup of Nations |  National Heroes Stadium, Lusaka, Zambia

## Current squad[edit]

The following 21 players are selected for the 2019 FIFA U-20 World Cup to be held in Poland between 23 May – 15 June 2019.[4]

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

|
|
|
|

1  | 1GK | Zwelithini Matlaba |  (1999-10-30) 30 October 1999 (age 24) |  Orlando Pirates
2  | 2DF | Samson Mbuyane |  (1999-05-27) 27 May 1999 (age 24) |  Ajax Cape Town
3  | 2DF | Dumisani Mthembu |  (1999-12-20) 20 December 1999 (age 24) |  Cape Umoya
4  | 2DF | Nhlanhla Sithole |  (1999-02-06) 6 February 1999 (age 25) |  Mamelodi Sundowns
5  | 2DF | Edgar Nxumalo |  (1999-04-14) 14 April 1999 (age 24) |  AmaZulu
6  | 2DF | Kingsley Gwala |  (1999-03-03) 3 March 1999 (age 24) |  Orlando Pirates
7  | 3MF | Siyabonga Ntshangase |  (2003-11-13) 13 November 2003 (age 20) |  Orlando Pirates
8  | 3MF | Oswald Mkhize |  (1999-12-11) 11 December 1999 (age 24) |  Kaizer Chiefs
9  | 3MF | Mthokozisi Dlamini |  (2001-08-25) 25 August 2001 (age 22) |  SuperSport United
10  | 4FW | Bongani Ntuli |  (2000-09-03) 3 September 2000 (age 23) |  Vitória Guimarães
11  | 4FW | Jabulani Mbeki |  (2003-05-18) 18 May 2003 (age 20) |  Real Kings F.C.
12  | 4FW | Christopher Mabaso |  (2000-04-30) 30 April 2000 (age 23) |  Orlando Pirates
13  | 2DF | Augustine Mofokeng |  (2000-02-07) 7 February 2000 (age 24) |  Bidvest Wits
14  | 3MF | Lehlohonolo Mphahlele |  (2000-03-10) 10 March 2000 (age 23) |  SuperSport United
15  | 3MF | Ayanda Ngubane |  (1999-02-05) 5 February 1999 (age 25) |  Mamelodi Sundowns
16  | 1GK | Destiny Ndlovu |  (2000-03-27) 27 March 2000 (age 23) |  Mamelodi Sundowns
17  | 3MF | Moeketsi Radebe |  (1999-11-08) 8 November 1999 (age 24) |  Real Kings
18  | 4FW | Clyde Ramabulana |  (1999-01-08) 8 January 1999 (age 25) |  Jong Ajax
19  | 3MF | Shaun Ratshikhopha |  (1999-08-28) 28 August 1999 (age 24) |  Braga
20  | 1GK | Nkhangweni Tshivhase |  (1999-01-07) 7 January 1999 (age 25) |  Cape Umoya
21  | 2DF | Lindokuhle Buthelezi |  (1999-02-24) 24 February 1999 (age 24) |  Mamelodi Sundowns

### 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  | 10  | 1  | 3  | 6  | 8  | 18

### Africa U-20 Cup of Nations record[edit]

Africa U-20 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

### COSAFA U-20 Challenge Cup record[edit]

COSAFA U-20 Cup  |

|

Hosts/Year  | Result  | GP  | W  | D*  | L  | GS  | GA
1983-1990 | did not enter | - | - | - | - | - | \-
1993 | Quarter-finals | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 8 | 3
1995 | Runners-up | 5 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 3
1997 | Unknown | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ?
1999 | Runners-up | 6 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 15 | 6
2000 | Champions | 5 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 1
2001 | Unknown | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ?
2002 | Unknown | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ?
2003 | Unknown | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ?
2004 | Champions | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ?
2005 | Unknown | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ?
2006 | Champions | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ?
2007 | Runners-up | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ?
2008 | Champions | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ?
2009 | Champions | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 16 | 1
2010 | Group Stage | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 4
2013 | Champions | 5 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 0
2016 | Runners-up | 5 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 16 | 2

## 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. ^ "Amajita's 21-man FIFA WC squad announced". safa.net. SAFA. 14 May 2019. Retrieved 14 May 2019.

## External links[edit]

* South Africa FA official website

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Soccer in South Africa

South African Football Association

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| Men|

* National team (Bafana Bafana)
* Olympic (U-23) (Amaglug-glug)
* U-20 (Amajita)
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* development (Amabinneplaas)

|

Women|

* National team (Banyana Banyana)
* U-20 (Basetsana)
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League system|

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| Active|

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|

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Women|

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|

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|

Defunct|

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See also
Geography
Codes
Player/Club of the Century
Women's football

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Football in Africa portal 1 Regional team, an associate member of CAF but not a member of FIFA

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