South Africa national under-20 soccer team

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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 nine U-20 Africa Cup of Nations tournaments and five FIFA U-20 World Cups.

South Africa under-20
NicknameAmajita
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)
Biggest win
South Africa 8–0 Lesotho
(Moruleng, South Africa; 7 December 2016)
Biggest defeat
 Hungary vs  South Africa
(Al Masry Club Stadium, Egypt; 30 September 2019)
FIFA U-20 World Cup
Appearances5 (first in 1997)
Best resultRound of 16 (2009) and (2025)
U-20 Africa Cup of Nations
Appearances9 (first in 1997)
Best result Champions (2025)
COSAFA U-20 Challenge Cup
Appearances29 (first in 1993)
Best result Champions (2000), (2004), (2006), (2008), (2009), (2013), (2017), (2018), (2024), and (2025)

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

History

The team was founded in 1993 and played their first match against Swaziland winning 2–0.

FIFA U-20 World Cup

They have qualified for the 1997, 2009, 2017, 2019, and 2025 FIFA U-20 World Cup.

Afcon U-20

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.

COSAFA U-20 Cup

In 2013, they won the 2013 COSAFA U-20 Cup with a 2–0 win against Kenya in the final held in Lesotho.In 2017, they won the 2017 COSAFA U-20 Cup with a 2–1 win against Lesotho in the final held in Zambia.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.In 2024, they won their ninth COSAFA U-20 Cup after defeating Zambia 2–0 in the final. They did not concede in the entire tournament and qualified for the 2025 U-20 Africa Cup of Nations.They won their tenth title in 2025 defeating Malawi 3–0 in the final in Namibia.

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

 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
 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
 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
 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
 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
 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
 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

2025

 South Africa v  Botswana
22 March Friendly  South Africa 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
 South Africa v  Botswana
25 March Friendly  South Africa 4–1  Botswana Johannesburg, South Africa
15:00
  • Phili 19'
  • Magidigidi 31'
  • Morwaswi 45'
  • April 78'
  • Aphiri 27'
 Stadium: UJ Soweto Stadium, Soweto
 Egypt v  South Africa
27 April Afcon U-20  Egypt 1–0  South Africa Cairo, Egypt
21:00 El Hadad 62' Stadium: Cairo International Stadium
 South Africa v  Tanzania
30 April Afcon U-20  South Africa 1–0  Tanzania Ismailia, Egypt
18:00 April 28' Stadium: Suez Canal Stadium
 Sierra Leone v  South Africa
6 May Afcon U-20  Sierra Leone 1–4  South Africa Ismailia, Egypt
15:00 Mom. Kamara 69'
  • Ahshene 13'
  • Rapoo 60'
  • Mahlangu 86', 89'
 Stadium: Suez Canal Stadium
 South Africa v  Zambia
9 May Afcon U-20  South Africa 1–1  Zambia Cairo, Egypt
21:00 Letlhaku 8' B. Phiri 12' Stadium: 30 June Stadium
 DR Congo v  South Africa
12 May Afcon U-20  DR Congo 0–1 (a.e.t.)  South Africa Ismailia, Egypt
21:00
  • Mahlangu 105+4'
 Stadium: Suez Canal Stadium
 Nigeria v  South Africa
15 May Afcon U-20  Nigeria 0–1  South Africa Ismailia, Egypt
18:00
  • Smith 66'
 Stadium: Suez Canal Stadium
 Morocco v  South Africa
18 May Afcon U-20  Morocco 0–1  South Africa Cairo, Egypt
21:00
  • Kekana 70'
 Stadium: Cairo International Stadium
 South Africa v  Zambia
5 July COSAFA U-20  South Africa 3–3  Zambia Windhoek, Namibia
15:00
  • Bohloko 6'
  • Witbooi 17'
  • Mzimela 80'
  • G. Phiri 7'
  • Simute 32'
  • Ndhlovu 44'
 Stadium: Hage Geingob Stadium
 Botswana v  South Africa
7 July COSAFA U-20  Botswana 0–3  South Africa Windhoek, Namibia
15:00
  • Stevens 15'
  • Mokokosi 25'
  • Sekgoto 59'
 Stadium: Hage Geingob Stadium
 Eswatini v  South Africa
9 July COSAFA U-20  Eswatini 0–2  South Africa Windhoek, Namibia
15:00
  • Mendes 28'
  • Mhlongo 59'
 Stadium: Hage Geingob Stadium
 Angola v  South Africa
11 July COSAFA U-20  Angola 0–2  South Africa Windhoek, Namibia
13:00
  • Clemente 30' (o.g.)
  • Mendes 64'
 Stadium: Hage Geingob Stadium
 South Africa v  Malawi
13 July COSAFA U-20  South Africa 3–0  Malawi Windhoek, Namibia
14:00
  • Mzimela 5'
  • Mlondo 64'
  • Sekgoto 76'
 Stadium: Hage Geingob Stadium
 France v  South Africa
29 October FIFA U-20  France 2–1  South Africa Rancagua, Chile
20:00
  • Bermont 25'
  • Michal 80'
 Ah Shene 33' (pen.) Stadium: Estadio El Teniente
 South Africa v  New Caledonia
2 October FIFA U-20  South Africa 5–0  New Caledonia Rancagua, Chile
20:00 Stadium: Estadio El Teniente
 South Africa v  United States
5 October FIFA U-20  South Africa 2–1  United States Rancagua, Chile
20:00 Stadium: Estadio El Teniente
 Colombia v  South Africa
8 October FIFA U-20  Colombia 2–1  South Africa Talca, Chile
16:30
  • Canchimbo 7'
  • Villarreal 63', 90+6'
 Vilakazi 49' (pen.) Stadium: Estadio Fiscal de Talca

Current squad

The following players were called up for the 2025 FIFA U-20 World Cup between 27 September – 19 October 2025.


No. Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Club
1 1GK Fletcher Smythe-Lowe (2007-02-02)2 February 2007 (aged 18) Estoril
2 2DF Sfiso Timba (2006-03-28)28 March 2006 (aged 19) Kaizer Chiefs
3 2DF Neo Rapoo (2005-08-12)12 August 2005 (aged 20) Siwelele
4 3MF Patrick Autata (2005-01-05)5 January 2005 (aged 20) Durban City
5 2DF Asekho Tiwani (2005-05-10)10 May 2005 (aged 20) Mamelodi Sundowns
6 2DF Siviwe Nkwali (2005-05-15)15 May 2005 (aged 20) Stellenbosch
7 4FW Shakeel April (2005-12-01)1 December 2005 (aged 19) Cape Town City
8 3MF Gomolemo Kekana (2006-07-07)7 July 2006 (aged 19) Mamelodi Sundowns
9 4FW Jody Ah Shene (2005-02-01)1 February 2005 (aged 20) Cape Town City
10 3MF Mfundo Vilakazi (2005-11-19)19 November 2005 (aged 19) Kaizer Chiefs
11 4FW Kutlwano Letlhaku (2006-03-25)25 March 2006 (aged 19) Mamelodi Sundowns
12 4FW Thabang Mahlangu (2005-07-31)31 July 2005 (aged 20) Siwelele
13 4FW Luke Baartman (2006-06-12)12 June 2006 (aged 19) Kaizer Chiefs
14 2DF Tylon Smith (2005-05-09)9 May 2005 (aged 20) Queens Park Rangers
15 3MF Lazola Maku (2007-04-10)10 April 2007 (aged 18) Siwelele
16 1GK Kgoleng Ratisani (2006-04-29)29 April 2006 (aged 19) Sekhukhune United
17 4FW Langelihle Phili (2005-01-21)21 January 2005 (aged 20) Stellenbosch
18 4FW Siyabonga Mabena (2007-02-18)18 February 2007 (aged 18) Mamelodi Sundowns
19 2DF Thato Sibiya (2006-06-23)23 June 2006 (aged 19) Mamelodi Sundowns
20 1GK Takalani Mazhamba (2007-05-30)30 May 2007 (aged 18) Kaizer Chiefs
21 4FW Siviwe Magidigidi (2005-07-01)1 July 2005 (aged 20) Siwelele

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
  • Siyabonga Nomvethe

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 Round of 16 13th 4 2 0 2 9 6
2027 To be determined
Round of 16 5/25 17 3 4 10 20 31

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
2025 Champions 5 4 1 0 13 3

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