South Africa national under-23 soccer team

The South Africa national under-23 football team is a youth football 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 All-Africa Games and Olympic Games. The team has played at three All-Africa Games and one Olympic tournament. Players who are selected, will be 23 or younger in the following Olympic year. With the next Olympics being held in London in 2012, players need to have been born on or after 1 January 1989. At the Olympic finals tournament, the team may be supplemented with 3 over-age players.

South Africa U-23

Nickname	Amaglug-glug
Association	South African Football Association
Confederation	CAF (Africa)
Sub-confederation	COSAFA
Head coach	Morena Ramoreboli
Captain	Repo Malepe
FIFA code	RSA
First colours Second colours
First international
South Africa 0–0 Ghana
Olympic Games
Appearances	3 (first in 2000)
Best result	Group Stage (2000, 2016, 2020)
Africa U-23 Cup of Nations
Appearances	3 (first in 2011)
Best result	Third place (2015, 2019)
African Games
Appearances	4 (first in 1999)
Best result	Silver Medal (2011)

History

The team was started in 1994, when SAFA decided to form a youth team. The team has been sponsored by SASOL since its inception, leading to the nickname, 'Amaglug-glug'. The team's greatest achievements to date include a third-place finish at the 1999 All-Africa Games, hosted in South Africa and qualifying for the 2000 Olympics in Sydney, Australia.

Results and fixtures

Legend

  Win   Draw   Lose   Fixture

2019

Angola  v  South Africa

22 March 2019 2019 AFCON Q	Angola	1–3	South Africa	Talatona, Angola
16:00 WAT	Teixeira 87'	Report	Mahlambi 7' Mukumela 16' Margeman 62'	Stadium: Estádio 11 de Novembro Referee: Lebalang Mokete (Lesotho)

South Africa  v  Angola

26 March 2019 2019 AFCON Q	South Africa	3–0	Angola	Johannesburg, South Africa
19:00 SAST	Webber 10' Mokoena 80' Singh 90+2'	Report		Stadium: Bidvest Stadium Referee: Audrick Nkole (Zambia)

South Africa  v  Zimbabwe

6 September 2019 2019 AFCON Q	South Africa	5–0	Zimbabwe	Johannesburg, South Africa
19:00 SAST	Kodisang 17' Singh 35', 60' Mokoena 40' Foster 66'	Report		Stadium: Orlando Stadium Referee: António Caluassi Dungula (Angola)

Zimbabwe  v  South Africa

10 September 2019 2019 AFCON Q	Zimbabwe	0–0	South Africa	Bulawayo, Zimbabwe
15:00 CAT		Report		Stadium: Barbourfields Stadium Referee: Tshepo Mokani Gobagoba (Botswana)

South Africa  v  Zambia

9 November 2019 2019 AFCON GS	South Africa	0–0	Zambia	Cairo, Egypt
20:00 CAT		Report		Stadium: Al Salam Stadium Referee: Salima Mukansanga (Rwanda)

Ivory Coast  v  South Africa

12 November 2019 2019 AFCON GS	Ivory Coast	0–1	South Africa	Cairo, Egypt
17:00 CAT		Report	Mokoena 79'	Stadium: Al Salam Stadium Referee: Souleiman Ahmed Djama (Djibouti)

Nigeria  v  South Africa

15 November 2019 2019 AFCON GS	Nigeria	0–0	South Africa	Cairo, Egypt
20:00 CAT		Report		Stadium: Al Salam Stadium Referee: Boubou Traoré (Mali)

Egypt  v  South Africa

19 November 2019 2019 AFCON SF	Egypt	3–0	South Africa	Cairo, Egypt
20:00 CAT	R. Sobhi 59' (pen.) Magdy 84', 89'	Report		Stadium: Cairo International Stadium Referee: Daouda Guèye (Senegal)

South Africa  v  Ghana

22 November 2019 2019 AFCON 3rd place match	South Africa	2–2 (6–5 p)	Ghana	Cairo, Egypt
16:00 CAT	Mohammed 15' (o.g.) Mahlatsi 62'	Report	Mensah 50' Obeng 85'	Stadium: Cairo International Stadium Referee: Boubou Traoré (Mali)
	Penalties
	Malepe Margeman Mukumela Singh Dlala Mohamme Kodisang Foster		Lomotey Mensah Issah Fobi Obeng Sarpong Fuseini Cudjoe

2021

Japan  v  South Africa

22 July 2020 Summer Olympics GS Group A	Japan	1–0 Source (FIFA)	South Africa	Tokyo, Japan
20:00 UTC+9	Kubo 71'	Report (FIFA)		Stadium: Tokyo Stadium Referee: Jesús Valenzuela (Venezuela)

France  v  South Africa

25 July 2020 Summer Olympics GS Group A	France	4–3 Source (FIFA)	South Africa	Satiama, Japan
17:00 UTC+9	Gignac 57', 78', 86' (pen.) Savanier 90+3'	Report (FIFA)	Kodisang 53' Makgopa 73' Mokoena 82'	Stadium: Saitama Stadium 2002 Referee: Kevin Ortega (Peru)

South Africa  v  Mexico

28 July 2020 Summer Olympics GS Group A	South Africa	0–3 Source (FIFA)	Mexico	Sapporo, Japan
20:30 UTC+9		Report (FIFA)	Vega 18' Romo 45+1' Martín 60'	Stadium: Sapporo Dome Referee: Matthew Conger (New Zealand)

Coaching staff

Manager history

• Jean-Michel d'Avray (1993–1997)
• Ephraim Mashaba (1998–2002)
• Kenneth Kubheka (2002–2004)
• Styles Phumo (2004)
• Steve Komphela (2005)
• Pitso Mosimane / Serame Letsoaka (2005)
• Steve Komphela (2005–2007)
• David Notoane (2019–2021)
• Helman Mkhalele (2021–2022)
• David Notoane (2022-2023)
• Morena Ramoreboli (2024-present)

Players

Current squad

• The following players were called up for the 2023 Africa U-23 Cup of Nations qualification matches.
• Match dates: 23 and 27 March 2023
• Opposition:  Congo

No.	Pos.	Player	Date of birth (age)	Caps	Goals	Club
	1GK	Ephraim Mothibedi	(1999-06-06) 6 June 1999 (age 26)	0	0	All Stars
	1GK	Olwethu Mzimela	(2001-04-18) 18 April 2001 (age 24)	0	0	AmaZulu
	1GK	Lincoln Vyver	(2001-03-02) 2 March 2001 (age 24)	0	0	Cape Town Spurs
	2DF	Kegan Johannes	(2001-03-31) 31 March 2001 (age 24)	3	0	SuperSport United
	2DF	McBeth Mahlangu	(2001-10-11) 11 October 2001 (age 24)	1	0	TS Galaxy
	2DF	Bradley Cross	(2001-01-30) 30 January 2001 (age 24)	0	0	Maritzburg United
	2DF	Rushwin Dortley	(2002-05-02) 2 May 2002 (age 23)	0	0	Cape Town Spurs
	2DF	Olwethu Makhanya	(2004-04-30) 30 April 2004 (age 21)	0	0	Stellenbosch
	2DF	Athenkosi Mcaba	(2002-01-09) 9 January 2002 (age 23)	0	0	Stellenbosch
	3MF	Jayden Adams	(2001-05-05) 5 May 2001 (age 24)	0	0	Stellenbosch
	3MF	Oswin Appolis	(2001-08-25) 25 August 2001 (age 24)	0	0	Pretoria Callies
	3MF	Ethan Brooks	(2001-11-22) 22 November 2001 (age 24)	0	0	AmaZulu
	3MF	Kegs Chauke	(2003-01-08) 8 January 2003 (age 22)	0	0	Burton Albion
	3MF	Thapelo Maseko	(2002-11-11) 11 November 2002 (age 23)	0	0	SuperSport United
	3MF	Siyanda Msani	(2001-08-12) 12 August 2001 (age 24)	0	0	Richards Bay
	3MF	Christos Retsos	(2001-05-02) 2 May 2001 (age 24)	0	0	Aris Petroupolis
	3MF	Samkelo Zwane	(2002-01-04) 4 January 2002 (age 23)	0	0	Kaizer Chiefs
	4FW	Ashley Cupido	(2001-05-05) 5 May 2001 (age 24)	0	0	Cape Town Spurs
	4FW	Yanela Mbuthuma	(2002-02-23) 23 February 2002 (age 23)	0	0	Richards Bay
	4FW	Boitumelo Radiopane	(2002-01-21) 21 January 2002 (age 23)	0	0	Cape Town Spurs
	4FW	Mduduzi Shabalala	(2004-01-20) 20 January 2004 (age 21)	0	0	Kaizer Chiefs
	4FW	Devin Titus	(2001-05-18) 18 May 2001 (age 24)	0	0	Stellenbosch
	4FW	Antonio Van Wyk	(2002-03-30) 30 March 2002 (age 23)	0	0	Stellenbosch

Recent call-ups

The following players have previously been called up to the South Africa under-23 squad and remain eligible.

Pos.	Player	Date of birth (age)	Caps	Goals	Club	Latest call-up
GK	Bontle Molefe	(2003-01-06) 6 January 2003 (age 22)	0	0	Kaizer Chiefs	v.  Togo, 30 October 2022
DF	Keagan Allen	(2001-04-02) 2 April 2001 (age 24)	0	0	Moroka Swallows	v.  Togo, 30 October 2022
DF	Wayne Dortley	(2002-05-02) 2 May 2002 (age 23)	0	0	Cape Town Spurs	v.  Togo, 30 October 2022
DF	Zuko Mdunyelwa	(2001-06-06) 6 June 2001 (age 24)	0	0	Chippa United	v.  Togo, 30 October 2022
DF	Khaya Mfecane	(2001-07-08) 8 July 2001 (age 24)	0	0	Cape Town Spurs	v.  Togo, 30 October 2022
DF	Kerwin Peters	(2000-09-02) 2 September 2000 (age 25)	0	0	All Stars	v.  Togo, 30 October 2022
DF	Thabiso Sesane	(2001-05-04) 4 May 2001 (age 24)	0	0	All Stars	v.  Togo, 30 October 2022
MF	Oswin Andries	Unknown	0	0	Stellenbosch	v.  Togo, 30 October 2022
MF	Cassius Mailula	(2001-06-12) 12 June 2001 (age 24)	0	0	Mamelodi Sundowns	v.  Togo, 30 October 2022
MF	Azola Matrose	(2003-03-27) 27 March 2003 (age 22)	0	0	Chippa United	v.  Togo, 30 October 2022
FW	Chumani Butsaka	(2001-10-03) 3 October 2001 (age 24)	0	0	Cape Town Spurs	v.  Togo, 30 October 2022
FW	Dan Ndlovu	(2002-04-22) 22 April 2002 (age 23)	0	0	Baroka	v.  Togo, 30 October 2022
FW	Aphelele Teto	(2003-06-13) 13 June 2003 (age 22)	0	0	TS Galaxy	v.  Togo, 30 October 2022

Notable players

Players who have previously played for the under-23 team, and have since gone on to play for the senior team:

• Emile Baron
• Brian Baloyi
• Matthew Booth
• Delron Buckley
• Rowen Fernández
• Stanton Fredericks
• Quinton Fortune
• David Kannemeyer
• Steve Lekoelea
• Jabu Mahlangu
• Benni McCarthy
• Fabian McCarthy
• Aaron Mokoena
• Toni Nhleko
• Siyabonga Nomvete
• Andile Jali
• Thulani Serero
• Eric Mathoho
• Patrick Mbuthu
• Anathi Ashley Sobekiwe
• Thiyekile Gulwa
• Mzun

Overage players in Olympic Games

Tournament	Player 1	Player 2	Player 3
2000	Brian Baloyi (GK)	Dumisa Ngobe (MF)	did not select
2016	Itumeleng Khune (GK)	Eric Mathoho (DF)	did not select
2020	Ronwen Williams (GK)	did not select

Competitive record

Olympic Games

Summer Olympics record
Hosts/Year	Result	GP	W	D*	L	GS	GA
1992	Did not enter	-	-	-	-	-	-
1996	Did not qualify	-	-	-	-	-	-
2000	Group Stage	3	1	0	2	5	5
2004	Did not qualify	-	-	-	-	-	-
2008	Did not qualify	-	-	-	-	-	-
2012	Did not qualify	-	-	-	-	-	-
2016	Group Stage	3	0	2	1	1	2
2020	Group Stage	3	0	0	3	3	8
2024	Did not qualify	-	-	-	-	-	-
Total	3/9	9	1	2	6	9	15

• Prior to the 1992 Olympic Games campaign, the Olympic football tournament was open to full senior national teams.

Africa U-23 Cup of Nations

Africa U-23 Cup of Nations record
Hosts/Year	Result	GP	W	D*	L	GS	GA
2011	Group stage	3	0	2	1	2	4
2015	Third place	5	2	1	2	5	7
2019	Third place	5	1	3	1	3	5
2023	Did not qualify	-	-	-	-	-	-
Total	3/4	13	3	6	4	10	16

African Games

African Games record
Hosts/Year	Result	GP	W	D*	L	GS	GA
1999	Third Place	5	3	2	0	8	2
2003	Group Stage	3	0	1	2	2	6
2007	Group Stage	3	1	0	2	1	4
2011	Runners up	5	2	2	0	5	2
2015	did not qualify
Total	4/5	16	6	5	4	16	14

*Draws include knockout matches decided by penalty shootout.