South Africa women's national under-17 soccer team


South Africa under-17
Nickname(s)Bantwana
AssociationSouth African Football Association
ConfederationCAF (Africa)
Sub-confederationCOSAFA
Head coachNtombifuthi Khumalo
CaptainKatleho Malebane
Top scorerOyisa Marhasi
(11 goals)
Home stadiumFNB Stadium
FIFA codeRSA
First colours
Second colours
First international
 Cameroon 2–0  
(Yaoundé, Cameroon; 2008)
Biggest win
 Seychelles 0–28  
(Port Louis, Mauritius; 21 September 2019)
Biggest defeat
  0–9  Mexico
 Germany 10–1  
(Scarborough, Trinidad and Tobago; 8 September 2010)
African U-17 Cup of Nations
Appearances6 (first in 2008)
Best result Champions (2010, 2018)
COSAFA U-17 Women's Championship
Appearances3 (first in 2019)
Best result Champions (2022)
FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup
Appearances2 (first in 2010)
Best resultGroup stage (2010, 2018)

The South Africa women's national under-17 soccer team (Bantwana), 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 objective is to qualify and play at the FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup and develop players for the main national team Banyana Banyana.

Bantwana hold the African record for most goals in an international match. They scored 28 goals (won 28–0) against Seychelles in the opening match of group B at the 2019 COSAFA U-17 Women's Championship.[1]

History

FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup

The team qualified for their maiden FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup at the 2010 FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup in Trinidad & Tobago.[2] This feat made the first women's team to qualify for the World Cup. Banyana Banyana would make their World Cup debut nine years later in 2019.[3]

In 2018, they qualified for the 2018 FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup in Uruguay making their second appearance at the FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup.[4][5]

African U-17 Women's World Cup qualification

In the 2025 qualification, they reached the second round with a 21–2 aggregate win over Gabon.[6][7] They failed to reach the third round qualifiers after a 5–1 aggregate loss to Nigeria.[8][9]

COSAFA U-17 Women's Championship

The competed in the inaugural tournament in 2019 held in Mauritius.[10] They were runners-up to Uganda in a 2–1 defeat in the final.[11] They set the African goal scoring record (28 goals) in that championship.[1]

They won their maiden COSAFA title at the 2022 edition, defeating Zambia by 4 goals to 3 in the final.[12][13][14]

In 2025 the team did not enter the competition citing a tight school schedule as the reason.[15]

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.

Legend

  Win   Draw   Loss   Fixture

2024

5 December COSAFA W U-17   4–2  Malawi Johannesburg, South Africa
12:30
  • Kock 23', 72', 88'
  • Malebana 35' (pen.)
  • Mwanyongo 48'
  • Lali 88'
Stadium: UJ Stadium Soweto
7 December COSAFA W U-17   5–0  Namibia Johannesburg, South Africa
15:30
  • Sithole 9'
  • Khoza 29'
  • Mohale 32'
  • Levy 64', 86'
Stadium: UJ Stadium Soweto
9 December COSAFA W U-17   0–1  Madagascar Johannesburg, South Africa
15:30
  • Rasoamanantena 18'
Stadium: UJ Stadium Soweto

2025

11 January World Cup Q Gabon  1–12   Franceville, Gabon
15:30 Mbassi 39'
  • Khoza 7'
  • Nzuza 20', 29', 32'
  • Kock 74'
  • Mohale 78'
  • Horak 80', 90', 90+3'
Stadium: Stade de Franceville
18 January World Cup Q   9–1  Gabon Pretoria, South Africa
15:30
  • Khoza 5', 27', 31', ??'
  • Malebana 18', ??'
  • Nzuza 25', ??', ??'
  • Simamane ??', ??', ??'
Stadium: Lucas Moripe Stadium, Atteridgeville
8 March World Cup Q   1–3  Nigeria Pretoria, South Africa
15:00 UTC+2
  • Malebana 47' (pen.)
  • Moshood 20'
  • Chidi 41' (pen.), 67'
Stadium: Lucas Moripe Stadium
15 March World Cup Q Nigeria  2–0   Ikenne, Nigeria
16:00 UTC+1
  • Chidi 37'
  • Animashaun 56'
Stadium: Remo Stars Stadium

Current squad

The following 20 players were selected for the 2024 COSAFA U-17 Women's Championship held in South Africa between 4 December – 13 December 2024:[16]

No. Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Club
1 1GK Sphumelele Zibula Dlala Ntombazana
2 1GK Dakalo Mafumo Panorama F.C.
3 1GK Rose Ann Gerber Brave Generations Academy
4 2DF Katlego Mohale JVW Sapphires
5 2DF Akhona Smamene Lindelani Ladies
5 2DF Dineo Makoala Future Stars F.C.
5 2DF Andiswa Zuma Dlala Ntombazana
6 2DF Sthabile Kamwande Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies Academy
7 2DF Bonolo Mokomo JVW Sapphires
8 3MF Nomfundo Nzuza Dlala Ntombazana
9 3MF Rethabile Molefe Springs Home Sweepers
10 3MF Katleho Malebane UP-Tuks Ladies
11 3MF Ambani Raphadana Sinthumule Kutama
12 3MF Asanda Ziqubu Dlala Ntombazana
13 3MF Nishaat Levy Salt River Blackpool
14 4FW Leonay Kock Royal Wizards
15 4FW Khwezi Khoza Durban Ladies
16 4FW Nobahle Mdelwa Lindelani Ladies
18 2DF Alwande Mbatha Dlala Ntombazana
19 4FW Okuhle Sithole Durban Ladies

Top goal scorers

Active players in bold, statistics correct as of November 2024.

Rank Player Goals
1 Oyisa Marhasi 11
2 Jessica Wade 10
3 Khwezi Khoza 5
4 Miche Minnies 4
Karabo Dhlamini 4

Managerial history

All-time Bantwana coaching records
Coach Nat. Tenure
Simphiwe Dludlu  South Africa 20172021
Nthabeleng Modiko  South Africa 20222024
Ntombifuthi Khumalo  South Africa 2024 – present

Competitive record

FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup record

FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup
Appearances: 2
Year Round Position Pld W D L GF GA
2008 did not qualify
2010 Group stage 16th 3 0 0 3 2 17
2012 did not qualify
2014
2016
2018 Group stage 12th 3 0 1 2 1 10
2022 did not qualify
2024
2025
2026 TBD
Total Group stage 2/9 6 0 1 5 3 27

African U-17 Cup of Nations for Women record

African U-17 Cup of Nations for Women
Appearances: 6
Year Round Position Pld W D L GF GA
2008 First round 2 21 0 2 0 3
2010 Play-off round 6 3 1 2 25 9
2012 Second round 4 1 2 1 7 6
2013 Second round 2 0 1 1 4 6
2016 Second round 2 22 0 2 0 7
2018 Second round 4 4 0 0 17 7
2020 The 2020 FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
2022 Third round 2 1 0 1 1 3
2024 Second round 2 0 1 1 0 3
2025 Second round 4 2 0 2 22 7
2026 To be determined
Total Second round 6/6 28 15 5 12 76 48
  • ^1 South Africa qualified from the preliminary round by withdrawal of Botswana.
  • ^2 South Africa qualified from the first round by withdrawal of Zambia.

COSAFA U-17 Women's Championship

COSAFA U-17 Women's Championship record
Year Round Pld W D* L GS GA GD
2019 Runners-up 5 4 0 1 39 5 +34
2020 Third Place 4 2 0 2 18 8 +10
2022 Champions 4 2 0 0 23 4 +19
2024 Group Stage 3 2 0 1 9 3 +6
Total 16 11 0 4 89 20

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "South Africa U-17 women thrash Seychelles 28–0". BBC Sport. Retrieved 8 April 2024.
  2. ^ "FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup Trinidad & Tobago 2010™: South Africa". www.fifa.com. Retrieved 8 December 2023.
  3. ^ Sibembe, Jonah Dylan and Yanga (7 June 2019). "Banyana Banyana set to make debut, with the usual suspects gunning for glory once more". Daily Maverick. Retrieved 26 March 2025.
  4. ^ "SA's Women's U17 team begins Fifa World Cup campaign with tricky clash against Mexico". SowetanLIVE. Retrieved 8 December 2023.
  5. ^ "Dludlu names 21-member Bantwana squad for 2018 FIFA WC - SAFA.net". 25 October 2018. Retrieved 9 December 2023.
  6. ^ Pillay, Alicia (19 January 2025). "SA U17s Win World Cup First Leg Qualifiers with 21–2 Aggregate". gsport4girls. Retrieved 26 March 2025.
  7. ^ Pongco, Siya (16 January 2025). "SuperSport Schools Plus | Bantwana favoured against Gabon in Fifa Women's World Cup qualifier second leg". SuperSport Schools Plus. Retrieved 26 March 2025.
  8. ^ "Bantwana falls short in the FIFA U17 Youth World Cup Qualifiers first leg against Nigeria | soccer". SABC. 9 March 2025. Retrieved 26 March 2025.
  9. ^ "Bantwana to redeem themselves in FIFA U17 World Cup qualifiers against Nigeria | soccer". SABC. 15 March 2025. Retrieved 26 March 2025.
  10. ^ "Cosafa U17 Women's Cup: Bantwana must start strongly against Seychelles – Dludlu | Goal.com". www.goal.com. 21 September 2019. Retrieved 8 April 2024.
  11. ^ "Bantwana win silver in maiden Cosafa U17 Women's Champs". SuperSport. Retrieved 20 September 2024.
  12. ^ "Emphatic 12–0 victory books semis ticket for Bantwana | soccer". SABC. 5 December 2022. Retrieved 20 September 2024.
  13. ^ este (14 December 2022). "Local coach and players win Cosafa Cup with SA U17 girls team". The Witness. Retrieved 8 April 2024.
  14. ^ Kanjere, Peter (12 December 2022). "COSAFA Championship joy for SA girls, heartbreak for Amajimbos". FARPost. Retrieved 20 September 2024.
  15. ^ CentreCircle (10 April 2025). "South Africa gives COSAFA U17 Women's Championship 2025 a miss due to tight school schedule". Centre Circle. Retrieved 10 April 2025.
  16. ^ "Bantwana in camp ahead of 2024 COSAFA U17 Youth Championships - SAFA.net". 30 November 2024. Retrieved 3 December 2024.