South Africa national under-20 soccer team

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

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.

South Africa under-20

Nickname(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)

History

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

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

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

 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

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

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

FIFA U-20 World Cup record

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

Africa U-20 Cup of Nations record

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

COSAFA U-20 Challenge Cup
Hosts/Year	Result	GP	W	D*	L	GS	GA
1983 to 1990	did not enter
1993	Quater-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

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

• South Africa FA official website