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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-Up (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.

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.

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.

COSAFA U-17 Cup

They won the 2020 COSAFA U-17 Cup 4-2 via penalties after the match ended in a 1-1 draw against Zambia.

At the 2022 COSAFA U-17 Challenge Cup, they lost 1-0 in the final to Zambia.

Current squad

The following 20 players were selected for the 2024 COSAFA Under-17 Championship held in South Africa between 4–13 December 2024:

No.	Pos.	Player	Date of birth (age)	Club
1	1GK	Lwandiso Radebe	(2009-03-23)23 March 2009 (aged 15)	SuperSport United
2	2DF	Sive Pama	(2008-05-21)21 May 2008 (aged 16)	Cape Town City
3	2DF	Ziyanda Mchunu	(2008-04-25)25 April 2008 (aged 16)	Kaizer Chiefs Development
4	2DF	Hayden Booysen	(2009-06-04)4 June 2009 (aged 15)	Ubuntu Football Academy
5	2DF	Bokamoso Mokokosi	(2008-04-11)11 April 2008 (aged 16)	Kaizer Chiefs Development
6	3MF	Kamohelo Maraletse	(2008-09-21)21 September 2008 (aged 16)	Mamelodi Sundowns Academy
7	3MF	Selwyn Stevens	(2008-02-15)15 February 2008 (aged 16)	Mamelodi Sundowns Academy
8	3MF	Royce Malatji	(2008-05-31)31 May 2008 (aged 16)	Kaizer Chiefs Development
9	4FW	Aphelele Majola	(2010-01-22)22 January 2010 (aged 14)	Mamelodi Sundowns Academy
10	3MF	Emile Witbooi	(2008-08-28)28 August 2008 (aged 16)	Cape Town City
11	3MF	Simphiwe Mlondo		Mamelodi Sundowns Academy
12	3MF	Lebogang Dhlamini		Kaizer Chiefs Development
13	3MF	Omphemetse Sekgoto	(2010-03-11)11 March 2010 (aged 14)	Mamelodi Sundowns Academy
14	1GK	Lehlohonolo Mosia	(2009-08-15)15 August 2009 (aged 15)	Tuks
15	4FW	Neo Bohloko	(2008-04-01)1 April 2008 (aged 16)	Kaizer Chiefs Development
16	1GK	Luke Holden	(2008-10-01)1 October 2008 (aged 16)	Mamelodi Sundowns Academy
17	2DF	Tashiel Rugunanan		Kaizer Chiefs Development
18	3MF	Teboho Mlangeni	(2008-09-21)21 September 2008 (aged 16)	Kaizer Chiefs Development
19	4FW	Nkanyiso Maqasha	(2010-01-01)1 January 2010 (aged 14)	Mamelodi Sundowns Academy
20	2DF	Khayalethu Mzimela	(2008-01-07)7 January 2008 (aged 16)	British Football Academy

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.

Legend

  Win   Draw   Loss   Fixture

2024

9 December COSAFA U-17	South Africa	v	Mauritius	Johannesburg, South Africa
15:00				Stadium: UJ Stadium Auckland Park

7 December COSAFA U-17	South Africa	v	Comoros	Johannesburg, South Africa
15:00				Stadium: UJ Stadium Auckland park

5 December COSAFA U-17	South Africa	v	Botswana	Johannesburg, South Africa
15:00				Stadium: UJ Stadium Auckland Park

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 2021 Cancelled 2023 Did not qualify 2025 To be determined Total Group Stage 3 0 1 2 2 5

U-17 Africa Cup of Nations record U-17 Africa Cup of Nations 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 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

See also

• Bafana Bafana (South Africa national football team)
• Amajita (South Africa national under-20 football team)
• Amaglug-glug (South Africa national under-23 football team)
• Amabinneplaas (South Africa national development football team)
• Africa U-17 Cup of Nations

References

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. "Vela Khumalo lauds the preparation of Amajimbos as the project starts to take shape | soccer". SABC. 17 August 2024. Retrieved 3 December 2024.
6. "EN, FR, PR: South Africa win COSAFA Qualifiers for TOTAL U-17 AFCON, Morocco 2021!". 29 November 2020. Retrieved 3 December 2024.
7. Kanjere, Peter (12 December 2022). "COSAFA Championship joy for SA girls, heartbreak for Amajimbos". FARPost. Retrieved 3 December 2024.
8. "Coach Khumalo names final Amajimbos squad for COSAFA Youth Championships - SAFA.net". 29 November 2024. Retrieved 3 December 2024.
9. Ndubane, Khaya (23 April 2024). "Khumalo proud of Amajimbos after draw with Colombia". The Citizen. Retrieved 25 April 2024.
10. "MSN". www.msn.com. Retrieved 25 April 2024.

External links

• South Africa FA official website

v t e Soccer in South Africa
South African Football Association
National teams	Men National team (Bafana Bafana) Olympic (U-23) (Amaglug-glug) U-20 (Amajita) U-17 (Amajimbos) development (Amabinneplaas) U-15 Women National team (Banyana Banyana) U-20 (Basetsana) U-17 (Bantwana) U-15
League system	Men Active Premier Soccer League (South African Premiership National First Division) SAFA SAFA Second Division Regional League U19 National League Varsity Sports Football Defunct NFL (1959–77) SASL (1961–67) FPL (1969–90) NPSL Castle League for blacks (1971–77) NPSL Castle League (1978–84) NPSL (1985–95) NSL Castle League (1985–95) NSL Second Division (1985–95) Women Active SAFA Women's League Sasol Women’s League (Provincial leagues) SAFA Women's Regional League (Regional leagues) Women's Varsity Football
Domestic cups	Men Active Nedbank Cup Telkom Knockout MTN 8 Carling Black Label Cup Mangaung Cup Defunct NFL Cup (1959–77) SASF Cup (1961–85) United Bank International Soccer Festival (1993–94) Baymed Cup (2006) Telkom Charity Cup (1986–2010) Vodacom Challenge (1999-2011)
Awards	SAFA Awards PSL Awards
Lists	Clubs Club name changes Foreign players
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v t e National sports teams of South Africa
A1 GP Australian rules football Badminton Baseball U-18 Baseball5 Basketball M M U/18 M U/16 F F U/18 F U/16 Beach soccer Cricket M SA A M U/19 W W U/19 Blind Field hockey M M U/21 M U/18 F F U/21 F U/18 Futsal Goalball F U/17 Handball M F Ice hockey M M U/20 M U/18 F F U/18 Indoor hockey M W Korfball Kho kho M Netball W M Roller derby Roller hockey Rugby league Rugby union M M U/20 M U/18 M-7s F W-7s Soccer M M U/23 M U/20 M U/17 M U/15 F F U/20 F U/17 F U/15 Softball M F F U/18 Squash M F Tennis M F X Volleyball M F Water polo M F
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v t e National under-17 football teams of Africa (CAF)
North Africa (UNAF)	Algeria Egypt Libya Morocco Tunisia
West Africa (WAFU)	Benin Burkina Faso Cape Verde Gambia Ghana Guinea Guinea-Bissau Ivory Coast Liberia Mali Mauritania Niger Nigeria Senegal Sierra Leone Togo
East Africa (CECAFA)	Burundi Djibouti Eritrea Ethiopia Kenya Rwanda Somalia South Sudan Sudan Tanzania Uganda Zanzibar
Central Africa (UNIFFAC)	Cameroon Central African Republic Chad Congo DR Congo Equatorial Guinea Gabon São Tomé and Príncipe
Southern Africa (COSAFA)	Angola Botswana Comoros Eswatini Lesotho Madagascar Malawi Mauritius Mozambique Namibia Seychelles South Africa Zambia Zimbabwe
Non-regional Members	Réunion
Regional team, an associate member of CAF but not a member of FIFA Football in Africa portal

• African national under-17 association football teams
• National youth sports teams of South Africa