South Africa national under-20 soccer team

Last updated

South Africa under-20
Nickname(s) Amajita (The Boys)
Association South African
Football Association
Confederation CAF (Africa)
Sub-confederation COSAFA
Head coach Raymond Mdaka
FIFA code RSA
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First colours
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Second colours
First international
Flag of South Africa.svgSouth Africa 2–0 Swaziland Flag of Eswatini.svg
(Somhlolo, Swaziland; 11 December 1993) [1]
Biggest win
Flag of South Africa.svgSouth Africa 8–0 Lesotho Flag of Lesotho.svg
(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 resultRunners-Up (1997)
COSAFA U-20 Challenge Cup
Appearances21 (first in 1993 )
Best resultChampions (2000), (2004),(2006),(2008),(2009),(2013),(2017), and (2018)

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 African Youth Championship and FIFA U-20 World Cup. The team has played at seven African Youth Championships and three FIFA U-20 World Cups.

Contents

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. [2] [3]

In 2013, they won the 2013 COSAFA U-20 Cup with a 2-0 win against Kenya in the final held in Lesotho. [4]

In 2017, they won the 2017 COSAFA U-20 Cup with a 2-1 win against Lesotho in the final held in Zambia. [5]

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. [6]

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 Poland in 2019, players need to have been born on or after 1 January 1999.

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. [7] [8]

Legend

  Win  Draw  Loss  Fixture

2024

18 August Friendly Flag of Lesotho.svg  Lesotho 0-4Flag of South Africa.svg  South Africa Maseru, Lesotho
Stadium: Bambatha Tsita Sports Arena
16 August Friendly Flag of Lesotho.svg  Lesotho 1-3Flag of South Africa.svg  South Africa Maseru, Lesotho
15:00 CAT
Stadium: Bambatha Tsita Sports Arena

Current squad

The following 21 players are selected for the 2019 FIFA U-20 World Cup to be held in Poland between 23 May – 15 June 2019. [9]

No.Pos.PlayerDate of birth (age)Club
11 GK Zwelithini Matlaba (1999-10-30) 30 October 1999 (age 24) Flag of South Africa.svg Orlando Pirates
22 DF Samson Mbuyane (1999-05-27) 27 May 1999 (age 25) Flag of South Africa.svg Ajax Cape Town
32 DF Dumisani Mthembu (1999-12-20) 20 December 1999 (age 24) Flag of South Africa.svg Cape Umoya
42 DF Nhlanhla Sithole (1999-02-06) 6 February 1999 (age 25) Flag of South Africa.svg Mamelodi Sundowns
52 DF Edgar Nxumalo (1999-04-14) 14 April 1999 (age 25) Flag of South Africa.svg AmaZulu
62 DF Kingsley Gwala (1999-03-03) 3 March 1999 (age 25) Flag of South Africa.svg Orlando Pirates
73 MF Siyabonga Ntshangase (2003-11-13) 13 November 2003 (age 20) Flag of South Africa.svg Orlando Pirates
83 MF Oswald Mkhize (1999-12-11) 11 December 1999 (age 24) Flag of South Africa.svg Kaizer Chiefs
93 MF Mthokozisi Dlamini (2001-08-25) 25 August 2001 (age 23) Flag of South Africa.svg SuperSport United
104 FW Bongani Ntuli (2000-09-03) 3 September 2000 (age 24) Flag of Portugal.svg Vitória Guimarães
114 FW Jabulani Mbeki (2003-05-18) 18 May 2003 (age 21) Flag of South Africa.svg Real Kings F.C.
124 FW Christopher Mabaso (2000-04-30) 30 April 2000 (age 24) Flag of South Africa.svg Orlando Pirates
132 DF Augustine Mofokeng (2000-02-07) 7 February 2000 (age 24) Flag of South Africa.svg Bidvest Wits
143 MF Lehlohonolo Mphahlele (2000-03-10) 10 March 2000 (age 24) Flag of South Africa.svg SuperSport United
153 MF Ayanda Ngubane (1999-02-05) 5 February 1999 (age 25) Flag of South Africa.svg Mamelodi Sundowns
161 GK Destiny Ndlovu (2000-03-27) 27 March 2000 (age 24) Flag of South Africa.svg Mamelodi Sundowns
173 MF Moeketsi Radebe (1999-11-08) 8 November 1999 (age 24) Flag of South Africa.svg Real Kings
184 FW Clyde Ramabulana (1999-01-08) 8 January 1999 (age 25) Flag of the Netherlands.svg Jong Ajax
193 MF Shaun Ratshikhopha (1999-08-28) 28 August 1999 (age 25) Flag of Portugal.svg Braga
201 GK Nkhangweni Tshivhase (1999-01-07) 7 January 1999 (age 25) Flag of South Africa.svg Cape Umoya
212 DF Lindokuhle Buthelezi (1999-02-24) 24 February 1999 (age 25) Flag of South Africa.svg Mamelodi Sundowns

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/YearResultPositionGPWD*LGSGA
1977-1993 Banned
Flag of Qatar.svg 1995 did not qualify
Flag of Malaysia.svg 1997 Group Stage20th301226
1999 to 2007 did not qualify
Flag of Egypt.svg 2009 Round of 1615th411258
Flag of Colombia.svg 2011 did not qualify
Flag of Turkey.svg 2013
Flag of New Zealand.svg 2015
Flag of South Korea.svg 2017 Group Stage21st301214
Flag of Poland.svg 2019 Group Stage19th301237
Flag of Argentina.svg 2023 did not qualify
Flag of Chile.svg 2025 to be determined
Round of 164/24131481125

Africa U-20 Cup of Nations record

Africa U-20 Cup of Nations
Hosts/YearResultGPWD*LGSGA
1979 to 1993 did not enter
Flag of Nigeria.svg 1995 did not qualify
Flag of Morocco.svg 1997 Second Place521255
Flag of Ghana.svg 1999 did not qualify
Flag of Ethiopia.svg 2001 Group Stage301237
Flag of Burkina Faso.svg 2003 Group Stage301237
Flag of Benin.svg 2005 did not qualify
Flag of the Republic of the Congo.svg 2007
Flag of Rwanda.svg 2009 Fourth Place520389
Flag of South Africa.svg 2011 Group Stage310246
Flag of Algeria.svg 2013 did not qualify
Flag of Senegal.svg 2015 Group Stage310266
Flag of Zambia.svg 2017 Fourth Place5204109
Flag of Niger.svg 2019 Third Place513022
Flag of Mauritania.svg 2021 did not qualify
Flag of Egypt.svg 2023

COSAFA U-20 Challenge Cup record

COSAFA U-20 Challenge Cup
Hosts/YearResultGPWD*LGSGA
1983 to 1990 did not enter
Flag of Eswatini.svg 1993 Quater-finals420283
Flag of Lesotho.svg 1995 Second Place513133
Flag of Ghana.svg 1997 Unknown
Flag of South Africa.svg 1999 Second Place6411156
Flag of South Africa.svg 2000 Champions301237
Flag of South Africa.svg 2001 Unknown
Flag of South Africa.svg 2002 Unknown
Flag of South Africa.svg 2003 Unknown
Flag of South Africa.svg 2004 ChampionsUnknown
Flag of South Africa.svg 2005 Unknown
Flag of South Africa.svg 2006 ChampionsUnknown
Flag of South Africa.svg 2007 Second PlaceUnknown
Flag of South Africa.svg 2008 ChampionsUnknown
Flag of South Africa.svg 2009 Champions4400161
Flag of Botswana.svg 2010 Group StageUnknown
Flag of Botswana.svg 2011 Group Stage311166
Flag of Lesotho.svg 2013 Champions541070
Flag of South Africa.svg 2016 Second Place5401162
Flag of Zambia.svg 2017 Champions550082
Flag of Zambia.svg 2018 Champions513022
Flag of Zambia.svg 2019 Second Place5311126
Flag of South Africa.svg 2020 Group Stage312092
Flag of Eswatini.svg 2022 Third Place5302117

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References

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  3. "FIFA U-20 World Cup Poland 2019™: South Africa". www.fifa.com. Retrieved 8 December 2023.
  4. Namibian, The (15 December 2013). "SA win Cosafa U20 Champs". The Namibian. Retrieved 17 August 2024.
  5. Reporter, Sport (17 December 2017). "Amajita crowned 2017 COSAFA U-20 Champions". POWER 98.7. Retrieved 17 August 2024.
  6. "South Africa retain COSAFA Under-20 Championship title with shoot-out win". 13 December 2018. Retrieved 17 August 2024.
  7. Ndubane, Khaya (23 April 2024). "Khumalo proud of Amajimbos after draw with Colombia". The Citizen. Retrieved 25 April 2024.
  8. "MSN". www.msn.com. Retrieved 25 April 2024.
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