- Amajita won all five matches at the tournament, scoring 13 goals and conceding just three, without losing a single game.
- The win sends Amajita to the 2027 U20 AFCON in Ghana, where they will defend the title they already hold.
Publish time:2026-0
Amajita have won their third straight COSAFA U20 title, beating 10-man hosts Mozambique 2-1 in the final in Matola on Sunday.
Goals from Oarabile Booysen and Steven Mendes sealed the win. South Africa finished the tournament with a perfect record, winning all five of their matches. They opened with a 3-0 win over Lesotho, then beat Angola 2-0 and eSwatini 2-0.
In the semi-final, Amajita came from behind to beat Zambia 4-2 in a tough contest, before completing the campaign with the final win over Mozambique.
Across the tournament, South Africa scored 13 goals and conceded only three. Steven Mendes finished as the competition’s top scorer with six goals, and goalkeeper Takalani Mazhamba was named Goalkeeper of the Tournament.
The win gives Amajita automatic qualification for the 2027 U20 AFCON in Ghana, where they will defend the title they already hold as reigning champions.
Head coach Ray Mdaka said winning back-to-back titles gives the team confidence and consistency. He credited the win to preparation, planning, character, unity within the technical team, and discipline from the players.
“There is a lot of work taking place behind the scenes planning for the games. Our boys were also strong mentally, because in a tournament such as this one there is a lot happening, it was really a tough one,” he said.
Mdaka said the final, the semi-final and the Angola game were the toughest of the tournament. He added that their main focus ahead of the tournament had been winning the semi-final, since that was the ticket to AFCON qualification.
Well-known football fan Mama Joy congratulated the team.
“Congratulations to the coach, Raymond Mdaka, technical staff HOD Mkhabela and the boys,” she said.
