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.

South Africa under-20
Nickname(s)Amajita
AssociationSouth African
Football Association
ConfederationCAF (Africa)
Sub-confederationCOSAFA
Head coachRaymond Mdaka
CaptainLefa Autata
FIFA codeRSA
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
Appearances4 (first in 1997)
Best resultRound of 16 (2009)
U-20 Africa Cup of Nations
Appearances8 (first in 1997)
Best result Champions (2025)
COSAFA U-20 Challenge Cup
Appearances21 (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.

They are the current U-20 Africa Cup of Nations champions after defeating Morocco in the final held in Cairo on 18 May 2025.[2]

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.[3][4]

In 2013, they won the 2013 COSAFA U-20 Cup with a 2–0 win against Kenya in the final held in Lesotho.[5]

In 2017, they won the 2017 COSAFA U-20 Cup with a 2–1 win against Lesotho in the final held in Zambia.[6]

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.[7]

In 2024, they won their ninth COSAFA U-20 Cup after defeating Zambia 2–0 in the final.[8] They did not concede in the entire tournament and qualified for the 2025 U-20 Africa Cup of Nations.[9]

They qualified for the 2025 FIFA U-20 World Cup after a 1–0 win over the DR Congo in the quarterfinals of the 2025 U-20 Africa Cup of Nations.[10] They won their maiden U-20 African Cup of Nations title after beating Morocco 1–0 in the final held in Cairo on 18 May 2025.[11]

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 twelve months, as well as any future matches that have been scheduled.

Legend

  Win   Draw   Loss   Fixture

2024

16 August Friendly  Lesotho 1–3   Maseru, Lesotho
15:00 CAT
  • Maile 41'
  • Vilakazi 20'
  • Letlhaku 27'
  • April 90'
 Stadium: Bambatha Tsita Sports Arena
18 August Friendly  Lesotho 0–4   Maseru, Lesotho
  • Bennet 8'
  • Phili 13'
  • April 25'
  • Vilakazi 89'
 Stadium: Bambatha Tsita Sports Arena
27 September COSAFA U-20   5–0  Malawi Matola, Mozambique
15:00
  • April 36', 45'
  • Ahshene 49'
  • Lethlaku 68'
  • Mbokazi 74'
 Stadium: Estádio da Matola Annex
29 September COSAFA U-20   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
1 October COSAFA U-20  Comoros 0–2   Matola, Mozambique
15:00
Stadium: Estádio da Matola Annex
3 October COSAFA U-20  Angola 0–1   Matola, Mozambique
12:00
  • Ahshene 25'
 Stadium: Estádio da Matola Annex
5 October COSAFA U-20  Zambia 0–2   Matola, Mozambique
15:00
Stadium: Estádio da Matola Annex

2025

22 March Friendly   6–0  Botswana Johannesburg, South Africa
15:00
  • Ah Shene 9' 18' (pen.)
  • April 25'
  • Vilakazi 56', 90'
  • Phili 67'
 Stadium: UJ Soweto Stadium, Soweto
25 March Friendly   4–1  Botswana Johannesburg, South Africa
15:00
  • Phili 19'
  • Magidigidi 31'
  • Morwaswi 45'
  • April 78'
  • Aphiri 27'
 Stadium: UJ Soweto Stadium, Soweto
27 April Afcon U-20  Egypt 1–0   Cairo, Egypt
21:00 El Hadad 62' Stadium: Cairo International Stadium
30 April Afcon U-20   1–0  Tanzania Ismailia, Egypt
18:00 April 28' Stadium: Suez Canal Stadium
6 May Afcon U-20  Sierra Leone 1–4   Ismailia, Egypt
15:00 Mom. Kamara 69'
  • Ahshene 13'
  • Rapoo 60'
  • Mahlangu 86', 89'
 Stadium: Suez Canal Stadium
9 May Afcon U-20   1–1  Zambia Cairo, Egypt
21:00 Letlhaku 8' B. Phiri 12' Stadium: 30 June Stadium
12 May Afcon U-20  DR Congo 0–1 (a.e.t.)   Ismailia, Egypt
21:00
  • Mahlangu 105+4'
 Stadium: Suez Canal Stadium
15 May Afcon U-20  Nigeria 0–1   Ismailia, Egypt
18:00
  • Smith 66'
 Stadium: Suez Canal Stadium
18 May Afcon U-20  Morocco 0–1   Cairo, Egypt
21:00
  • Kekana 70'
 Stadium: Cairo International Stadium
5 July Region V Games   v  Zambia Windhoek, Namibia
15:00 Stadium: Hage Geingob Stadium
7 July Region V Games  Botswana v   Windhoek, Namibia
15:00 Stadium: Hage Geingob Stadium
9 July Region V Games  Eswatini v  Zambia Windhoek, Namibia
15:00 Stadium: Hage Geingob Stadium

Current squad

The following players were called up for the 2025 U-20 Africa Cup of Nations between 27 April – 18 May 2025.[12]

Caps and goals correct as of 30 April 2025, after the match against Tanzania.

No. Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club
1 1GK Fletcher Lowe (2007-02-02) 2 February 2007 2 0 Estoril Praia
16 1GK Kgoleng Ratisani (2006-04-29) 29 April 2006 0 0 Sekhukhune United
20 1GK Takalani Mazhamba (2007-05-30) 30 May 2007 0 0 Kaizer Chiefs
2 2DF Sifiso Timba Unknown 2 0 Kaizer Chiefs
3 2DF Neo Rapoo (2005-08-12) 12 August 2005 1 0 SuperSport United
5 2DF Asekho Tiwani (2005-10-05) 5 October 2005 1 0 Mamelodi Sundowns
6 2DF Siviwe Nkwali (2005-05-15) 15 May 2005 1 0 Cape Town Spurs
14 2DF Tylon Smith (2005-05-09) 9 May 2005 2 0 Stellenbosch
19 2DF Thato Sibiya (2006-06-23) 23 June 2006 1 0 Mamelodi Sundowns
21 2DF Gopolang Taunyane Unknown 1 0 Kaizer Chiefs
4 3MF Patrick Autata (2005-01-05) 5 January 2005 1 0 Cape Town City
8 3MF Gomolemo Kekana (2006-07-07) 7 July 2006 2 0 Mamelodi Sundowns
10 3MF Mfundo Vilakazi (2005-11-19) 19 November 2005 2 0 Kaizer Chiefs
15 3MF Lazola Maku (2007-04-10) 10 April 2007 2 0 SuperSport United
7 4FW Shakeel April (2005-12-01) 1 December 2005 2 1 Cape Town City
9 4FW Jody Ah Shene (2005-02-01) 1 February 2005 1 0 Cape Town City
11 4FW Kutlwano Lethlaku (2006-03-25) 25 March 2006 2 0 Mamelodi Sundowns
12 4FW Faiz Abrahams (2005-04-25) 25 April 2005 2 0 Stellenbosch
13 4FW Kgomotso Modiba Unknown 0 0 Stars of Africa Football Academy
17 4FW Langelihle Phili (2005-01-21) 21 January 2005 2 0 Stellenbosch
18 4FW Thabang Mahlangu (2005-07-31) 31 July 2005 2 0 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:

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 Qualified
Round of 16 5/24 13 1 4 8 11 25

U-20 Africa Cup of Nations record

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 Champions 7 5 1 1 9 3

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 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

  1. ^ "Under-20 National Team". Retrieved 3 January 2011.
  2. ^ "BREAKING: Amajita Crowned AFCON Champions". Soccer Laduma. 18 May 2025. Retrieved 18 May 2025.
  3. ^ "FIFA U-20 World Cup Korea Republic 2017™: South Africa". www.fifa.com. Retrieved 8 December 2023.
  4. ^ "FIFA U-20 World Cup Poland 2019™: South Africa". www.fifa.com. Retrieved 8 December 2023.
  5. ^ Namibian, The (15 December 2013). "SA win Cosafa U20 Champs". The Namibian. Retrieved 17 August 2024.
  6. ^ Reporter, Sport (17 December 2017). "Amajita crowned 2017 COSAFA U-20 Champions". POWER 98.7. Retrieved 17 August 2024.
  7. ^ "South Africa retain COSAFA Under-20 Championship title with shoot-out win". 13 December 2018. Retrieved 17 August 2024.
  8. ^ "EN, FR, PR: South Africa claim ninth COSAFA Under-20 crown". 5 October 2024. Retrieved 5 October 2024.
  9. ^ "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.
  10. ^ Mokhesi, Tokelo (13 May 2025). "Amajita coach reveals the World Cup qualification mantra". FARPost. Retrieved 18 May 2025.
  11. ^ Mokhesi, Tokelo (18 May 2025). "28 years later: Amajita exact revenge on Morocco to lift AFCON trophy". FARPost. Retrieved 18 May 2025.
  12. ^ "South Africa Under 20". Confederation of African Football. Retrieved 30 April 2025.
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