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.

South Africa under-20
Nickname(s)Amajita
AssociationSouth African
Football Association
ConfederationCAF (Africa)
Sub-confederationCOSAFA
Head coachRaymond Mdaka
CaptainLefa Autata
FIFA codeRSA
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First colours
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Second colours
First international
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(Somhlolo, Swaziland; 11 December 1993)[1]
Biggest win
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(Moruleng, South Africa; 7 December 2016)
FIFA U-20 World Cup
Appearances4 (first in 1997)
Best resultRound of 16 (2009)
U-20 Africa Cup of Nations
Appearances8 (first in 1997)
Best resultRunners-Up (1997)
COSAFA U-20 Challenge Cup
Appearances21 (first in 1993)
Best resultChampions (2000), (2004),(2006),(2008),(2009),(2013),(2017), (2018), and (2024)

History

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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

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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

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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

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5 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
16 August Friendly   Lesotho 1-3   South Africa Maseru, Lesotho
15:00 CAT
Stadium: Bambatha Tsita Sports Arena

Current squad

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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

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

Tournament records

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FIFA U-20 World Cup record

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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

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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

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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

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  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.
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  NODES
Association 3
INTERN 1
Note 1