South Africa national under-20 soccer team

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
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)
FIFA U-20 World Cup
Appearances	4 (first in 1997)
Best result	Round of 16 (2009)
U-20 Africa Cup of Nations
Appearances	8 (first in 1997)
Best result	Runners-Up (1997)
COSAFA U-20 Challenge Cup
Appearances	21 (first in 1993)
Best result	Champions (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.

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	Lesotho	0-4	South Africa	Maseru, Lesotho
			Bennet 8' Phili 13' April 25' Vilakazi 89'	Stadium: Bambatha Tsita Sports Arena

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

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.	Player	Date of birth (age)	Club
1	1GK	Zwelithini Matlaba	(1999-10-30) 30 October 1999 (age 24)	Orlando Pirates
2	2DF	Samson Mbuyane	(1999-05-27) 27 May 1999 (age 25)	Ajax Cape Town
3	2DF	Dumisani Mthembu	(1999-12-20) 20 December 1999 (age 24)	Cape Umoya
4	2DF	Nhlanhla Sithole	(1999-02-06) 6 February 1999 (age 25)	Mamelodi Sundowns
5	2DF	Edgar Nxumalo	(1999-04-14) 14 April 1999 (age 25)	AmaZulu
6	2DF	Kingsley Gwala	(1999-03-03) 3 March 1999 (age 25)	Orlando Pirates
7	3MF	Siyabonga Ntshangase	(2003-11-13) 13 November 2003 (age 20)	Orlando Pirates
8	3MF	Oswald Mkhize	(1999-12-11) 11 December 1999 (age 24)	Kaizer Chiefs
9	3MF	Mthokozisi Dlamini	(2001-08-25) 25 August 2001 (age 23)	SuperSport United
10	4FW	Bongani Ntuli	(2000-09-03) 3 September 2000 (age 24)	Vitória Guimarães
11	4FW	Jabulani Mbeki	(2003-05-18) 18 May 2003 (age 21)	Real Kings F.C.
12	4FW	Christopher Mabaso	(2000-04-30) 30 April 2000 (age 24)	Orlando Pirates
13	2DF	Augustine Mofokeng	(2000-02-07) 7 February 2000 (age 24)	Bidvest Wits
14	3MF	Lehlohonolo Mphahlele	(2000-03-10) 10 March 2000 (age 24)	SuperSport United
15	3MF	Ayanda Ngubane	(1999-02-05) 5 February 1999 (age 25)	Mamelodi Sundowns
16	1GK	Destiny Ndlovu	(2000-03-27) 27 March 2000 (age 24)	Mamelodi Sundowns
17	3MF	Moeketsi Radebe	(1999-11-08) 8 November 1999 (age 24)	Real Kings
18	4FW	Clyde Ramabulana	(1999-01-08) 8 January 1999 (age 25)	Jong Ajax
19	3MF	Shaun Ratshikhopha	(1999-08-28) 28 August 1999 (age 25)	Braga
20	1GK	Nkhangweni Tshivhase	(1999-01-07) 7 January 1999 (age 25)	Cape Umoya
21	2DF	Lindokuhle Buthelezi	(1999-02-24) 24 February 1999 (age 25)	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/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	to be determined
	Round of 16	4/24	13	1	4	8	11	25

Africa U-20 Cup of Nations record

Africa U-20 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	did not qualify
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	did not qualify

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	Quater-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

References

^ "Under-20 National Team". Retrieved 3 January 2011.
^ "FIFA U-20 World Cup Korea Republic 2017™: South Africa". www.fifa.com. Retrieved 8 December 2023.
^ "FIFA U-20 World Cup Poland 2019™: South Africa". www.fifa.com. Retrieved 8 December 2023.
^ Namibian, The (15 December 2013). "SA win Cosafa U20 Champs". The Namibian. Retrieved 17 August 2024.
^ Reporter, Sport (17 December 2017). "Amajita crowned 2017 COSAFA U-20 Champions". POWER 98.7. Retrieved 17 August 2024.
^ "South Africa retain COSAFA Under-20 Championship title with shoot-out win". 13 December 2018. Retrieved 17 August 2024.
^ Ndubane, Khaya (23 April 2024). "Khumalo proud of Amajimbos after draw with Colombia". The Citizen. Retrieved 25 April 2024.
^ "MSN". www.msn.com. Retrieved 25 April 2024.
^ "Amajita's 21-man FIFA WC squad announced". safa.net. SAFA. 14 May 2019. Retrieved 14 May 2019.

External links

South Africa FA official website

[1] "Under-20 National Team". Retrieved 3 January 2011.

[2] "FIFA U-20 World Cup Korea Republic 2017™: South Africa". www.fifa.com. Retrieved 8 December 2023.

[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.

[9] "Amajita's 21-man FIFA WC squad announced". safa.net. SAFA. 14 May 2019. Retrieved 14 May 2019.

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