South Africa's under-20 national team, known as Amajita, claimed a third consecutive COSAFA U-20 Championship title on Sunday, 27 September 2026, with a 2-1 victory over hosts Mozambique in the final at ABB Stadium in Maputo.
The result completed a perfect campaign of five wins from five matches and secured their place at the 2027 CAF Under-20 Africa Cup of Nations in Ghana alongside the runners-up.
Thrilling final in Maputo
Oarabile Booysen opened the scoring in the 28th minute with a stunning long-range strike after winning the ball in the Mozambican half. The lead lasted only two minutes. Goalkeeper Takalani Mazhamba's attempted long clearance went wrong, allowing Martinho Comecar to slot into an empty net and level the score at 1-1.
South Africa regained the advantage early in the second half. Emile Witbooi was fouled in the penalty area, and Kaizer Chiefs midfielder Steven Mendes converted the spot-kick with confidence in the 58th minute. Mendes finished the tournament as top scorer with six goals and claimed the Golden Boot. Mozambique's hopes of a comeback were further damaged when a defender was sent off following a VAR review for an incident involving Mendes. Amajita then managed the game professionally to close out the victory.
Road to the final
The final capped an impressive tournament for Raymond Mdaka's side. In the semi-finals, South Africa came from behind to defeat 12-time champions Zambia 4-2, with Mendes scoring twice from the penalty spot, Booysen adding another, and Witbooi sealing it late. Mozambique had reached the final with a convincing 3-0 win over Namibia. Zambia took third place with a 3-0 victory over Namibia in the play-off.
Historical significance
This success marks South Africa's third straight crown (following titles in 2024 and 2025) and their 11th overall in the competition's history. Only Zambia (12 titles) sit ahead of them on the all-time list. The 2024 triumph came via a 2-0 final win over Zambia, while the 2025 edition in Namibia ended with a 3-0 final victory over Malawi. The current generation also carries the distinction of having won South Africa's first-ever U-20 Africa Cup of Nations title in Egypt in 2025.
Awards and tournament stats
Mazhamba earned the Golden Glove for his performances, while Mozambique's Alirio Cuna was named Player of the Tournament. Namibia collected the Fair Play award. The tournament produced 73 goals across 22 matches.
Looking ahead
Reaching the final automatically qualified both finalists for the continental finals. Amajita will now look to defend their African title in Ghana in 2027, building on a period of sustained success at youth level that has strengthened the pathway for South African talent.
The victory on Mozambican soil underlines the depth and resilience of the current Amajita squad and continues an upward trajectory for South African under-20 football in the southern African region.