South Africa national under-17 soccer team

South Africa under-17
Nickname(s)	Amajimbos
Association	South African; Football Association
Confederation	CAF (Africa)
Sub-confederation	COSAFA
Head coach	Vela Khumalo
Captain	Bokamoso Mokokosi
Most caps	Thamsanqa Ayanda Juqu
Top scorer	Siyabonga Mabena; (9 goals)
Home stadium	FNB Stadium
FIFA code	RSA
First colours	Second colours
Biggest win
	South Africa 4–0 Lesotho ; (16 August 2024)
Biggest defeat
	Senegal 5–0 South Africa ; (10 May 2023)
Africa U-17 Cup of Nations
Appearances	4 (first in 2005)
Best result	Runners-ups (2015)
COSAFA Under-17 Championship
Appearances	7 (first in 1994)
Best result	Champions (1994), (2002), and (2020)
FIFA U-17 World Cup
Appearances	1 (first in 2015)
Best result	Group 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]

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]

Current squad

The following players were called up for the 2023 Africa U-17 Cup of Nations.^[5]

Caps and goals as of 30 April 2023, after the match against Morocco.

No.	Pos.	Player	Date of birth (age)	Caps	Goals	Club
1	1GK	Gennaro Jackson	(2007-11-22) 22 November 2007 (age 16)	0	0	Cape Town Spurs
16	1GK	Kyle Jansen	(2006-02-23) 23 February 2006 (age 18)	1	0	Atlanta United
21	1GK	Takalani Mazhamba	(2007-05-30) 30 May 2007 (age 17)	0	0	Kaizer Chiefs

2	2DF	Xhosa Manyama	(2006-01-09) 9 January 2006 (age 18)	0	0	Cape Town City
3	2DF	Keitumetse Lesia	(2006-05-22) 22 May 2006 (age 18)	1	0	SuperSport United
4	2DF	Benjamin Wallace	(2006-05-08) 8 May 2006 (age 18)	1	0	SuperSport United
5	2DF	Waylon Renecke	(2006-05-12) 12 May 2006 (age 18)	1	0	Norwich City
12	2DF	Vincent Sithole	(2006-01-02) 2 January 2006 (age 18)	0	0	Mamelodi Sundowns
14	2DF	Tyler Cicero	(2006-01-02) 2 January 2006 (age 18)	1	0	Stellenbosch
19	2DF	Thato Sibiya	(2006-06-23) 23 June 2006 (age 18)	0	0	Mamelodi Sundowns

6	3MF	Xolani Tshaka	(2006-02-09) 9 February 2006 (age 18)	1	0	Orlando Pirates
7	3MF	Dhakier Lee	(2006-05-07) 7 May 2006 (age 18)	1	0	Cape Town Spurs
9	3MF	Michael Dokunmu	(2006-04-09) 9 April 2006 (age 18)	1	0	Vitesse
10	3MF	Xavier Jodamus	(2006-04-25) 25 April 2006 (age 18)	1	0	Ubuntu Cape Town
11	3MF	Vicky Mkhawana	(2006-01-10) 10 January 2006 (age 18)	1	0	Kaizer Chiefs
13	3MF	Gomolemo Kekana	(2006-07-07) 7 July 2006 (age 18)	1	0	TS Galaxy

8	4FW	Gabriel Amato	(2006-07-27) 27 July 2006 (age 18)	1	0	Cape Town City
15	4FW	Bennet Mokoena	(2007-06-18) 18 June 2007 (age 17)	1	0	Mamelodi Sundowns
17	4FW	Luke Baartman	(2006-06-12) 12 June 2006 (age 18)	1	0	Cape Town Spurs
18	4FW	Orifha Maubelo	(2006-01-18) 18 January 2006 (age 18)	0	0	Capital City
20	4FW	Siyabonga Mabena	(2007-02-18) 18 February 2007 (age 17)	1	0	Mamelodi Sundowns

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.^[6]^[7]

Legend

Win Draw Loss Fixture

2024

7 September FIFA U/16 TDS	Morocco	1-0	South Africa	Bingerville, Ivory Coast
				Stadium: Stade Municipal

5 September FIFA U/16 TDS	South Africa	1-1 (4-3 p)	Tanzania	Bingerville, Ivory Coast
	Bohloko 90+'			Stadium: Stade Municipal

3 September FIFA U/16 TDS	Algeria	4-7	South Africa	Bingerville, Ivory Coast
			Stevens 8' 90+' Bohloko 40' 57' Pama 43' Witbooi 59' 69'	Stadium: Stade Municipal

18 August Friendly	South Africa	3-1	Lesotho	Soweto, South Africa
	Bohloko 45' Dlamini 59' Witbooi 61'		Skhosana 35'	Stadium: UJ Soweto Stadium

16 August Friendly	South Africa	4-0	Lesotho	Soweto, South Africa
15:00 CAT	Pama 10' Stevens 21' Mhlangeni 26' Mgoqi 62'			Stadium: UJ Soweto Stadium

24 April Friendly	Colombia	2-1	South Africa	Palmira, Colombia
	Martinezx2		Bohloko	Stadium: Estadio Francisco Rivera Escobar

22 April Friendly	Colombia	2-2	South Africa	Palmira, Colombia
15:00 UTC+2	Mendez 79' Herazo 90'		Mendes 33' Lonzi 24'	Stadium: Estadio Francisco Rivera Escobar

Competitive record

FIFA U-17 World Cup record

FIFA U-17 World Cup Record
Hosts/Year	Round	GP	W	D	L	GS	GA
1985	Banned
1987
1989
1991
1993
1995	Did not qualify
1997
1999
2001
2003
2005
2007
2009
2011
2013
2015	Group Stage	3	0	1	2	2	5
2017	Did not qualify
2019	Did not qualify
~~2021~~	Cancelled
2023	Did not qualify
2025	To be determined
Total	Group Stage	3	0	1	2	2	5

Africa U-17 Cup of Nations record

African U-17 Championship
Hosts/Year	Round	GP	W	D	L	GS	GA
1995	Did not qualify
1997
1999
2001
2003
2005	Fourth Place	5	2	1	2	8	6
2007	Group Stage	3	1	1	1	5	5
2009	Did not qualify
2011
2013
2015	Runners-up	5	2	2	1	8	7
2017	Did not qualify
2019	Did not qualify
~~2021~~	Cancelled
2023	Quarter-finals	4	1	0	3	5	12
2025	To be determined
Total	Runners-up	17	6	4	7	26	30

COSAFA U-17 Championship

COSAFA U-17 Challenge Cup record
Year	Round	Pld	W	D*	L	GS	GA	GD
2016	Runners-Up	5	4	0	1	11	1	+10
2017	Fourth place	5	3	0	1	11	11	0
2018	Runners-Up	5	3	1	1	8	3	+5
2019	Group Stage	3	0	1	2	1	11	+19
2020	Champions	5	3	1	1	7	6	+1
2021	Did not participate
2022	Runners-Up	5	3	0	2	17	3	+14
Total		28	16	3	8	55	35

References

^ "SA U17 team ultimate aim is to qualify for FIFA World Cup - SABC News - Breaking news, special reports, world, business, sport coverage of all South African current events. Africa's news leader". 18 April 2023. Retrieved 24 December 2023.
^ "FIFA U-17 World Cup Chile 2015™: South Africa". www.fifa.com. Retrieved 8 December 2023.
^ Gcwabe, Ongama (31 August 2024). "SuperSport Schools Plus | Amajimbos jet off to Fifa u17 TDS Nations Tournament". SuperSport Schools Plus. Retrieved 7 September 2024.
^ Pongco, Siya (6 September 2024). "SuperSport Schools Plus | Amajimbos win again in Côte d'Ivoire". SuperSport Schools Plus. Retrieved 7 September 2024.
^ "Coach Duncan Crowie names final squad for Under-17 AFCON". South African Football Association. 18 April 2023. Retrieved 3 May 2023.
^ 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.

External links

South Africa FA official website

[1] "SA U17 team ultimate aim is to qualify for FIFA World Cup - SABC News - Breaking news, special reports, world, business, sport coverage of all South African current events. Africa's news leader". 18 April 2023. Retrieved 24 December 2023.

[2] "FIFA U-17 World Cup Chile 2015™: South Africa". www.fifa.com. Retrieved 8 December 2023.

[3] Gcwabe, Ongama (31 August 2024). "SuperSport Schools Plus | Amajimbos jet off to Fifa u17 TDS Nations Tournament". SuperSport Schools Plus. Retrieved 7 September 2024.

[4] Pongco, Siya (6 September 2024). "SuperSport Schools Plus | Amajimbos win again in Côte d'Ivoire". SuperSport Schools Plus. Retrieved 7 September 2024.

[5] "Coach Duncan Crowie names final squad for Under-17 AFCON". South African Football Association. 18 April 2023. Retrieved 3 May 2023.

[6] Ndubane, Khaya (23 April 2024). "Khumalo proud of Amajimbos after draw with Colombia". The Citizen. Retrieved 25 April 2024.

[7] "MSN". www.msn.com. Retrieved 25 April 2024.

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