17 September 2024 – The South African U20 Men’s National Team (Amajita) will report for camp on Sunday 22 September ahead of the highly anticipated COSAFA U20 Championships, which will take place in Maputo, Mozambique, from 25 September 2024 – 5 October 2024.
Amajita will be looking to do extremely well in the COSAFA Championships, with the main aim of qualifying for the 2025 CAF U20 Africa Cup of Nations as the target.
Head Coach Raymond Mdaka named his squad ahead of the exciting youth tournament and included U17 sensation Emile Witbooi in his squad, with only two internationals – Fletcher Smthye-Lowe and Shandre Campbell – available to join the national team.
Speaking to www.safa.net, Mdaka emphasized the importance of this squad doing well in the COSAFA Championships.
“Although some clubs failed to release the players we requested for this important tournament, I believe we have selected a strong quality squad and will be able to achieve our objectives. Our objective for the COSAFA Championships was clear from the day I came into office. We must go to the 2025 U20 FIFA World Cup, and to do so, we need to be in the top two of the Championships,” said Mdaka.
“We are grateful to all the clubs who have released their players, and we will ensure that we accomplish the mission at hand;” concluded Mdaka.
South Africa has been drawn in Group C of the COSAFA Championships and will play their opening match of the tournament on 27 September 2024 against Malawi before facing Lesotho on 29 September 2024. Amajita will then tackle Comoros on 1 October 2024, with the objective of qualifying for the semi finals on 3 October 2024.
All matches will be played at ABB Stadium and will be broadcast live.
U20 men’s squad:
| NAME & SURNAME | CLUB | |
| GOALKEEPERS | ||
| 1 | SMYTHE- LOWE Fletcher | Astoria Praia – Portugal |
| 2 | MAZHAMBA Takalani | Kaizer Chiefs FC |
| 3 | RATISANI Kgoleng | Sekhukhune FC |
| DEFENDERS | ||
| 4 | MBOKAZI Mbekezele | Orlando Pirates FC |
| 5 | SMITH Tylon | Stellenbosch FC |
| 6 | TAUNYANA Gopolang | Kaizer Chiefs FC |
| 7 | TIWANI Asekho | Mamelodi Sundowns FC |
| 8 | TIMBA Sifiso | Kaizer Chiefs FC |
| MIDFIELDERS | ||
| 9 | KEKANA Gomolemo | Mamelodi Sundowns FC |
| 10 | KGOSANA Ofentse | Kaizer Chiefs FC |
| 11 | VILAKAZI Mfundo | Kaizer Chiefs FC |
| 12 | MABENA Siyabonga | Mamelodi Sundowns FC |
| 13 | MAKU Lazola | Supersport united FC |
| 14 | APRIL Shakeel | Cape Town City FC |
| 15 | AUTATA Lefa | TS Galaxy |
| 16 | CAMPBELL Shandre | Club NXT – Belgium |
| 17 | MANYAMA Xhosa | Cape Town City FC |
| 18 | WITBOOI Emile | Cape Town City |
| FORWARDS | ||
| 19 | LETLHAKU Kutlwano | Mamelodi Sundowns FC |
| 20 | MAHLANGU Thabang | Supersport United FC |
