South Africa national under-17 soccer team

Last updated

South Africa under-17
Nickname(s) Amajimbos
Association South African
Football Association
Confederation CAF (Africa)
Sub-confederation COSAFA
Head coach Flag of South Africa.svg Vela Khumalo
Captain Bokamoso Mokokosi
Most caps Thamsanqa Ayanda Juqu
Top scorer Siyabonga Mabena
(9 goals)
Home stadium FNB Stadium
FIFA code RSA
Kit left arm rsa23h.png
Kit left arm.svg
Kit body rsa23h.png
Kit body.svg
Kit right arm rsa23h.png
Kit right arm.svg
Kit shorts.svg
Kit socks long.svg
First colours
Kit left arm rsa23a.png
Kit left arm.svg
Kit body rsa23a.png
Kit body.svg
Kit right arm rsa23a.png
Kit right arm.svg
Kit shorts.svg
Kit socks long.svg
Second colours
Biggest win
Flag of South Africa.svg  South Africa 4–0 Flag of Lesotho.svg  Lesotho
(16 August 2024)
Biggest defeat
Flag of Senegal.svg  Senegal 5–0 Flag of South Africa.svg  South Africa
(10 May 2023)
Africa U-17 Cup of Nations
Appearances4 (first in 2005 )
Best resultSilver medal icon.svg Runners-Up (2015)
COSAFA Under-17 Championship
Appearances7 (first in 1994 )
Best resultGold medal icon.svg Champions (1994), (2002), and (2020)
FIFA U-17 World Cup
Appearances1 (first in 2015 )
Best resultGroup Stage (2015)
Website https://www.safa.net/

The South Africa national under-17 football team (Amajimbos), 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 Africa U-17 Cup of Nations and FIFA U-17 World Cup and develop the players for the main national team Bafana Bafana. [1]

Contents

History

The team was started in 1993, when the SAFA decided to form an under-17 team. The team's greatest achievement to date include a second-place finish at the 2015 African U-17 Championship, hosted in Niger and qualifying for the 2015 FIFA U-17 World Cup in Chile. [2]

In 2024, they were invited to play at the FIFA U/16 Talent Development Scheme Tournament held in Ivory Coast. The team finished with 2 wins and 1 loss. [3] [4] [5]

COSAFA U-17 Cup

They won the 2020 COSAFA U-17 Cup 4-2 via penalties after the match ended in a 1-1 draw against Zambia. [6]

At the 2022 COSAFA U-17 Challenge Cup, they lost 1-0 in the final to Zambia. [7]

Current squad

The following 20 players were selected for the 2024 COSAFA Under-17 Championship held in South Africa between 4–13 December 2024: [8]

No.Pos.PlayerDate of birth (age)Club
11 GK Lwandiso Radebe (2009-03-23)23 March 2009 (aged 15) Flag of South Africa.svg SuperSport United
22 DF Sive Pama (2008-05-21)21 May 2008 (aged 16) Flag of South Africa.svg Cape Town City
32 DF Ziyanda Mchunu (2008-04-25)25 April 2008 (aged 16) Flag of South Africa.svg Kaizer Chiefs Development
42 DF Hayden Booysen (2009-06-04)4 June 2009 (aged 15) Flag of South Africa.svg Ubuntu Football Academy
52 DF Bokamoso Mokokosi (2008-04-11)11 April 2008 (aged 16) Flag of South Africa.svg Kaizer Chiefs Development
63 MF Kamohelo Maraletse (2008-09-21)21 September 2008 (aged 16) Flag of South Africa.svg Mamelodi Sundowns Academy
73 MF Selwyn Stevens (2008-02-15)15 February 2008 (aged 16) Flag of South Africa.svg Mamelodi Sundowns Academy
83 MF Royce Malatji (2008-05-31)31 May 2008 (aged 16) Flag of South Africa.svg Kaizer Chiefs Development
94 FW Aphelele Majola (2010-01-22)22 January 2010 (aged 14) Flag of South Africa.svg Mamelodi Sundowns Academy
103 MF Emile Witbooi (2008-08-28)28 August 2008 (aged 16) Flag of South Africa.svg Cape Town City
113 MF Simphiwe Mlondo Flag of South Africa.svg Mamelodi Sundowns Academy
123 MF Lebogang Dhlamini Flag of South Africa.svg Kaizer Chiefs Development
133 MF Omphemetse Sekgoto (2010-03-11)11 March 2010 (aged 14) Flag of South Africa.svg Mamelodi Sundowns Academy
141 GK Lehlohonolo Mosia (2009-08-15)15 August 2009 (aged 15) Flag of South Africa.svg Tuks
154 FW Neo Bohloko (2008-04-01)1 April 2008 (aged 16) Flag of South Africa.svg Kaizer Chiefs Development
161 GK Luke Holden (2008-10-01)1 October 2008 (aged 16) Flag of South Africa.svg Mamelodi Sundowns Academy
172 DF Tashiel Rugunanan Flag of South Africa.svg Kaizer Chiefs Development
183 MF Teboho Mlangeni (2008-09-21)21 September 2008 (aged 16) Flag of South Africa.svg Kaizer Chiefs Development
194 FW Nkanyiso Maqasha (2010-01-01)1 January 2010 (aged 14) Flag of South Africa.svg Mamelodi Sundowns Academy
202 DF Khayalethu Mzimela (2008-01-07)7 January 2008 (aged 16) Flag of South Africa.svg British Football Academy

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. [9] [10]

Legend

  Win  Draw  Loss  Fixture

2024

9 December COSAFA U-17 Flag of South Africa.svg  South Africa vFlag of Mauritius.svg  Mauritius Johannesburg, South Africa
15:00Stadium: UJ Stadium Auckland Park
7 December COSAFA U-17 Flag of South Africa.svg  South Africa vFlag of the Comoros.svg  Comoros Johannesburg, South Africa
15:00Stadium: UJ Stadium Auckland park
5 December COSAFA U-17 Flag of South Africa.svg  South Africa vFlag of Botswana.svg  Botswana Johannesburg, South Africa
15:00Stadium: UJ Stadium Auckland Park
7 September FIFA U/16 TDS Flag of Morocco.svg  Morocco 1-0Flag of South Africa.svg  South Africa Bingerville, Ivory Coast
Stadium: Stade Municipal
5 September FIFA U/16 TDS Flag of South Africa.svg  South Africa 1-1
(4-3 p)
Flag of Tanzania.svg  Tanzania Bingerville, Ivory Coast
  • Bohloko Soccerball shade.svg90+'
Stadium: Stade Municipal
3 September FIFA U/16 TDS Flag of Algeria.svg  Algeria 4-7Flag of South Africa.svg  South Africa Bingerville, Ivory Coast
Stadium: Stade Municipal
18 August Friendly Flag of South Africa.svg  South Africa 3-1Flag of Lesotho.svg  Lesotho Soweto, South Africa
Stadium: UJ Soweto Stadium
16 August Friendly Flag of South Africa.svg  South Africa 4-0Flag of Lesotho.svg  Lesotho Soweto, South Africa
15:00 CAT
Stadium: UJ Soweto Stadium
22 April Friendly Flag of Colombia.svg  Colombia 2-2Flag of South Africa.svg  South Africa Palmira, Colombia
15:00  UTC+2
Stadium: Estadio Francisco Rivera Escobar

Competitive record

COSAFA U-17 Championship

COSAFA U-17 Challenge Cup record
YearRoundPldWD*LGSGAGD
Flag of Mauritius.svg 2016 Runners-Up5401111+10
Flag of Mauritius.svg 2017 Fourth place530111110
Flag of Mauritius.svg 2018 Runners-Up531183+5
Flag of Malawi.svg 2019 Group Stage3012111+19
Flag of South Africa.svg 2020 Champions531176+1
Flag of Lesotho.svg 2021 Did not participate
Flag of Malawi.svg 2022 Runners-Up5302173+14
Total2816385535

See also

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References

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  2. "FIFA U-17 World Cup Chile 2015™: South Africa". www.fifa.com. Retrieved 8 December 2023.
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  5. "Vela Khumalo lauds the preparation of Amajimbos as the project starts to take shape | soccer". SABC. 17 August 2024. Retrieved 3 December 2024.
  6. "EN, FR, PR: South Africa win COSAFA Qualifiers for TOTAL U-17 AFCON, Morocco 2021!". 29 November 2020. Retrieved 3 December 2024.
  7. Kanjere, Peter (12 December 2022). "COSAFA Championship joy for SA girls, heartbreak for Amajimbos". FARPost. Retrieved 3 December 2024.
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  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.