Nickname(s) | Amajita (The Boys) | ||
---|---|---|---|
Association | South African Football Association | ||
Confederation | CAF (Africa) | ||
Sub-confederation | COSAFA | ||
Head coach | Raymond Mdaka | ||
FIFA code | RSA | ||
| |||
First international | |||
![]() ![]() (Somhlolo, Swaziland; 11 December 1993)[1] | |||
Biggest win | |||
![]() ![]() (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
[edit]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
[edit]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
[edit]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
[edit]18 August Friendly | ![]() | v | ![]() | Maseru, Lesotho |
Stadium: Bambatha Tsita Sports Arena |
16 August Friendly | ![]() | 1-3 | ![]() | Maseru, Lesotho |
15:00 CAT |
|
Stadium: Bambatha Tsita Sports Arena |
Current squad
[edit]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]
Notable former players
[edit]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
Tournament records
[edit]FIFA U-20 World Cup record
[edit]U-20 World Cup | |||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Hosts/Year | Result | Position | GP | W | D* | L | GS | GA | |
1977-1993 | Banned | ||||||||
![]() |
did not qualify | ||||||||
![]() |
Group Stage | 20th | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 6 | |
1999 to 2007 | did not qualify | ||||||||
![]() |
Round of 16 | 15th | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 8 | |
![]() |
did not qualify | ||||||||
![]() | |||||||||
![]() | |||||||||
![]() |
Group Stage | 21st | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 4 | |
![]() |
Group Stage | 19th | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 7 | |
![]() |
did not qualify | ||||||||
![]() |
to be determined | ||||||||
Round of 16 | 4/24 | 13 | 1 | 4 | 8 | 11 | 25 |
Africa U-20 Cup of Nations record
[edit]Africa U-20 Cup of Nations | |||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Hosts/Year | Result | GP | W | D* | L | GS | GA | ||
1979 to 1993 | did not enter | ||||||||
![]() |
did not qualify | ||||||||
![]() |
Second Place | 5 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 5 | ||
![]() |
did not qualify | ||||||||
![]() |
Group Stage | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 7 | ||
![]() |
Group Stage | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 7 | ||
![]() |
did not qualify | ||||||||
![]() | |||||||||
![]() |
Fourth Place | 5 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 8 | 9 | ||
![]() |
Group Stage | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 6 | ||
![]() |
did not qualify | ||||||||
![]() |
Group Stage | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 6 | ||
![]() |
Fourth Place | 5 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 10 | 9 | ||
![]() |
Third Place | 5 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 2 | ||
![]() |
did not qualify | ||||||||
![]() |
COSAFA U-20 Challenge Cup record
[edit]COSAFA U-20 Challenge Cup | |||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Hosts/Year | Result | GP | W | D* | L | GS | GA | ||
1983 to 1990 | did not enter | ||||||||
![]() |
Quater-finals | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 8 | 3 | ||
![]() |
Second Place | 5 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 3 | ||
![]() |
Unknown | ||||||||
![]() |
Second Place | 6 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 15 | 6 | ||
![]() |
Champions | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 7 | ||
![]() |
Unknown | ||||||||
![]() |
Unknown | ||||||||
![]() |
Unknown | ||||||||
![]() |
Champions | Unknown | |||||||
![]() |
Unknown | ||||||||
![]() |
Champions | Unknown | |||||||
![]() |
Second Place | Unknown | |||||||
![]() |
Champions | Unknown | |||||||
![]() |
Champions | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 16 | 1 | ||
![]() |
Group Stage | Unknown | |||||||
![]() |
Group Stage | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 6 | ||
![]() |
Champions | 5 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 0 | ||
![]() |
Second Place | 5 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 16 | 2 | ||
![]() |
Champions | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 2 | ||
![]() |
Champions | 5 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 2 | ||
![]() |
Second Place | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 12 | 6 | ||
![]() |
Group Stage | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 9 | 2 | ||
![]() |
Third Place | 5 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 11 | 7 |
References
[edit]- ^ "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.