By Johnathan Paoli
South Africa has named its U17 national football squad, Amajimbos, ahead of their opening U17 Africa Cup of Nations match in Rabat, Morocco, on Wednesday.
Coach Vela Khumalo made the announcement on Friday, with the team set to depart for North Africa in the coming days ahead of partaking in Group D, against Senegal, Ghana and Algeria.
Khumalo said he was confident that the South African side could proceed to the knockout stages.
“What we have seen is that we stand a good chance, and we can get out of this group. We know that Senegal is a little bit physical, and they are big. The same goes with Ghana. Algeria is more or less like us. We have done our analysis on all of them, and we think we can do well,” he said.
The coach said that although the journey through the tournament was just as important, if not more so, than simply getting out of the groups, this did not diminish their determination to qualify for the U17 World Cup.
“We said that going to the World Cup is not about getting out of the group stages, but we also want to see ourselves going further in the tournament,” Khumalo said.
The tournament runs from 13 May to 2 June and will also serve as qualification for the 2026 FIFA U17 World Cup in Qatar, with the top 10 teams securing places at the global showpiece later this year.
South Africa open their campaign against defending 2023 champions Senegal on Thursday in what Khumalo described as one of the toughest groups in the competition.
The squad is dominated by players from the Gauteng Development League, with Kaizer Chiefs and Mamelodi Sundowns contributing the bulk of the players selected.
Among the standout inclusions is Germany-based midfielder Jaylen Potgieter, who recently received his first Amajimbos call-up after impressing at the academy of Bundesliga club FC Koln.
Potgieter’s father, former Ajax Cape Town and Orlando Pirates player Shaun Potgieter, said his son was thrilled to represent South Africa.
For goalkeepers, South Africa will rely on Lwandiso Radebe, Ethan Garcia and Keabetswe Morake.
Radebe heads into the tournament with strong credentials after captaining Amajimbos at the African Union Sports Council Region 5 Youth Games in Namibia, where South Africa won the title by beating Malawi 3-0 in the final.
He was named Goalkeeper of the Tournament and included in the competition’s Best XI.
The defence includes Tashiel Rugunanan, Reotshepile Malete, Tristan O’Malley, Neo Mangcaka, Zazi Qotoyi, Lutho Makunga, Braythen Moffit and Tumelo Moerane.
Qotoyi arrives at the tournament after helping Cape Town City win the Engen Champs of Champs title and earning Defender of the Tournament honours.
In midfield, Khumalo selected Jesse Gewer, Inganathi Simana, Aphelele Majola and Potgieter.
The attack will be spearheaded by Mpho Molepo, Omphemetse Sekgoto, Obama Mhlongo, Ntokozo Madondo, Siyabonga Mbongo and Samkelo Mkhonto.
The full 2026 U17 AFCON draw will see hosts Morocco in Group A alongside Tunisia, Egypt and Ethiopia, while Group B contains Cote d’Ivoire, Cameroon, Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Mali, Angola, Tanzania and Mozambique make up Group C.
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