South African U20 Men’s national team (Amajita) head coach Raymond Mdaka has named his final 20-man squad ahead of the highly anticipated COSAFA U20 championships.  

Mdaka’s youthful squad will report for camp on Sunday, 22 September to start preparations for the tournament which is set to take place in Maputo, Mozambique from 25 September 2024 to 5 October 2024. Amajita will be looking to do well in the COSAFA Championships with the mandate of qualifying for the 2025 CAF U20 Africa Cup Of Nations, with this year’s edition serving as a zonal qualifier for the continental showpiece for the two finalists.

Mdaka, who will lead the U20 national team for the first time in a major competition 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,” Mdaka said.  

“Our objective for the COSAFA Championships was clear from the day I came into the office. We must go to the 2025 U20 Africa Cup Of Nations, and to do so we need to be in the top two of the championships. “We are grateful to all the clubs who have released their players, and we will ensure that we accomplish the mission at hand,” Mdaka concluded.  

South Africa have been drawn in group C of the Championships and will play their opening match of the tournament on 27 September against Malawi before taking on Lesotho on 29 September.  

Amajita will then tackle Comoros on 1 October. Other nations include Angola, Botswana, Eswatini, Madagascar, Namibia, Zambia, and Zimbabwe with the semifinals of the tournament scheduled to be played on 3 October and all matches of the COSAFA Championship will be played at ABB Stadium.  

FINAL SQUAD  

GOALKEEPERS Smythe-Lowe (Astoria Praia – Portugal), Mazhamba Takalani (Kaizer Chiefs), Ratisani Kgoleng (Sekhukhune United) 

DEFENDERS  

Mbokani Mbekezele (Orlando Pirates), Smith Tylon (Stellenbosch FC), Taunyana Gopolang (Kaizer Chiefs), Asekho Tiwani (Mamelodi Sundowns), Timba Sifiso (Kaizer Chiefs)  

MIDFIELDERS: Kekana Gomolemo (Mamelodi Sundowns), Kgosana Ofentse (Kaizer Chiefs), Mfundo Vilakazi (Kaizer Chiefs), Siyabonga Mabena (Mamelodi Sundowns), Maku Lazola (SuperSport United), Shakeel April (Cape Town City), Autata Lefa (TS Galaxy), Shandre Campbell (Club NXT – Belgium), Manyama Xhosa (Cape Town City), Emile Witbooi (Cape Town City)  

FORWARDS: Kutlwano Letlhaku (Mamelodi Sundowns), Thabang Mahlangu (SuperSport United)