South Africa national under-20 soccer team

This article is about the men's team. For the women's team, see South Africa women's national under-20 soccer team.

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 seven U-20 Africa Cup of Nations tournaments and three FIFA U-20 World Cups.

South Africa under-20

Nickname(s)	Amajita
Association	South African Football Association
Confederation	CAF (Africa)
Sub-confederation	COSAFA
Head coach	Raymond Mdaka
Captain	Lefa Autata
FIFA code	RSA
First colours Second colours
First international
South Africa 2–0 Swaziland (Somhlolo, Swaziland; 11 December 1993)[1]
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	Champions (2025)
COSAFA U-20 Challenge Cup
Appearances	21 (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.^[2]

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 ^[3][4][5]

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.^[6]

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.^[7]

In 2017, they won the 2017 COSAFA U-20 Cup with a 2–1 win against Lesotho in the final held in Zambia.^[8]

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.^[9]

In 2024, they won their ninth COSAFA U-20 Cup after defeating Zambia 2–0 in the final.^[10] They did not concede in the entire tournament and qualified for the 2025 U-20 Africa Cup of Nations.^[11]

They won their tenth title in 2025 defeating Malawi 3–0 in the final in Namibia.^[12]

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

Current squad

The following players were called up for the 2025 U-20 Africa Cup of Nations between 27 April – 18 May 2025.^[13]

Caps and goals correct as of 30 April 2025, after the match against Tanzania.

No.	Pos.	Player	Date of birth (age)	Caps	Goals	Club
1	1GK	Fletcher Lowe	(2007-02-02) 2 February 2007 (age 18)	2	0	Estoril Praia
16	1GK	Kgoleng Ratisani	(2006-04-29) 29 April 2006 (age 19)	0	0	Sekhukhune United
20	1GK	Takalani Mazhamba	(2007-05-30) 30 May 2007 (age 18)	0	0	Kaizer Chiefs
2	2DF	Sifiso Timba	Unknown	2	0	Kaizer Chiefs
3	2DF	Neo Rapoo	(2005-08-12) 12 August 2005 (age 20)	1	0	SuperSport United
5	2DF	Asekho Tiwani	(2005-10-05) 5 October 2005 (age 19)	1	0	Mamelodi Sundowns
6	2DF	Siviwe Nkwali	(2005-05-15) 15 May 2005 (age 20)	1	0	Cape Town Spurs
14	2DF	Tylon Smith	(2005-05-09) 9 May 2005 (age 20)	2	0	Stellenbosch
19	2DF	Thato Sibiya	(2006-06-23) 23 June 2006 (age 19)	1	0	Mamelodi Sundowns
21	2DF	Gopolang Taunyane	Unknown	1	0	Kaizer Chiefs
4	3MF	Patrick Autata	(2005-01-05) 5 January 2005 (age 20)	1	0	Cape Town City
8	3MF	Gomolemo Kekana	(2006-07-07) 7 July 2006 (age 19)	2	0	Mamelodi Sundowns
10	3MF	Mfundo Vilakazi	(2005-11-19) 19 November 2005 (age 19)	2	0	Kaizer Chiefs
15	3MF	Lazola Maku	(2007-04-10) 10 April 2007 (age 18)	2	0	SuperSport United
7	4FW	Shakeel April	(2005-12-01) 1 December 2005 (age 19)	2	1	Cape Town City
9	4FW	Jody Ah Shene	(2005-02-01) 1 February 2005 (age 20)	1	0	Cape Town City
11	4FW	Kutlwano Lethlaku	(2006-03-25) 25 March 2006 (age 19)	2	0	Mamelodi Sundowns
12	4FW	Faiz Abrahams	(2005-04-25) 25 April 2005 (age 20)	2	0	Stellenbosch
13	4FW	Kgomotso Modiba	Unknown	0	0	Stars of Africa Football Academy
17	4FW	Langelihle Phili	(2005-01-21) 21 January 2005 (age 20)	2	0	Stellenbosch
18	4FW	Thabang Mahlangu	(2005-07-31) 31 July 2005 (age 20)	2	0	SuperSport United

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	Qualified
	Round of 16	5/24	13	1	4	8	11	25

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