# South Africa national under-17 soccer team

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
## Competitive record
### 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 | Did not participate | Did not participate | Did not participate | Did not participate | Did not participate | Did not participate | Did not participate |
| 2022 | Runners-Up | 5 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 17 | 3 | +14 |
| Total | | 28 | 16 | 3 | 8 | 55 | 35 | |