South Africa 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.
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 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
editThe 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
editPlayers 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
editThe 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
edit5 October COSAFA U-20 | Zambia | 0-2 | South Africa | Matola, Mozambique |
15:00 | Stadium: Estádio da Matola Annex |
3 October COSAFA U-20 | Angola | 0-1 | South Africa | Matola, Mozambique |
12:00 |
|
Stadium: Estádio da Matola Annex |
1 October COSAFA U-20 | Comoros | 0-2 | South Africa | Matola, Mozambique |
15:00 | Stadium: Estádio da Matola Annex |
29 September COSAFA U-20 | South Africa | 6-0 | Lesotho | Matola, Mozambique |
15:00 | Stadium: Estádio da Matola Annex |
27 September COSAFA U-20 | South Africa | 5-0 | Malawi | Matola, Mozambique |
15:00 | Stadium: Estádio da Matola Annex |
18 August Friendly | Lesotho | 0-4 | South Africa | Maseru, Lesotho |
Stadium: Bambatha Tsita Sports Arena |
Current squad
editThe following 20 players were selected for the 2024 COSAFA U-20 Cup held in Mozambique between 26 September – 5 October 2024:[11]
Notable former players
editPlayers who have previously played for the under-20 team, and have since gone on to play for the senior team:
Tournament records
editFIFA U-20 World Cup record
editU-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
editAfrica 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
editCOSAFA 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
edit- ^ "Under-20 National Team". Retrieved 3 January 2011.
- ^ "FIFA U-20 World Cup Korea Republic 2017™: South Africa". www.fifa.com. Retrieved 8 December 2023.
- ^ "FIFA U-20 World Cup Poland 2019™: South Africa". www.fifa.com. Retrieved 8 December 2023.
- ^ Namibian, The (15 December 2013). "SA win Cosafa U20 Champs". The Namibian. Retrieved 17 August 2024.
- ^ Reporter, Sport (17 December 2017). "Amajita crowned 2017 COSAFA U-20 Champions". POWER 98.7. Retrieved 17 August 2024.
- ^ "South Africa retain COSAFA Under-20 Championship title with shoot-out win". 13 December 2018. Retrieved 17 August 2024.
- ^ "EN, FR, PR: South Africa claim ninth COSAFA Under-20 crown". 5 October 2024. Retrieved 5 October 2024.
- ^ "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.
- ^ Ndubane, Khaya (23 April 2024). "Khumalo proud of Amajimbos after draw with Colombia". The Citizen. Retrieved 25 April 2024.
- ^ "MSN". www.msn.com. Retrieved 25 April 2024.
- ^ "Mdaka names 20 men squad ahead of U20 AFCON qualifiers - SAFA.net". 17 September 2024. Retrieved 27 September 2024.