South Africa’s national Under-20 men’s team, Amajita, will look to complete a successful Group B campaign when they face Eswatini in their final group match of the 2026 COSAFA Under-20 Championship in Mozambique on Wednesday.
The defending champions go into the encounter full of confidence after registering two impressive victories in their opening matches against Lesotho and Angola.
Amajita opened their campaign with a convincing 3-0 victory over Lesotho, with Steven Mendes scoring twice and Teboho Mlangeni adding the other goal.
They followed that performance with an equally important 2-0 victory over Angola on Monday, a result that put Raymond Mdaka’s charges on six points at the top of Group B.
Captain Lazola Maku opened the scoring in the 14th minute before Mendes doubled the advantage with a header in the 41st minute. The goal took Mendes’ tally to three in two matches.
The two victories have put Amajita within touching distance of the semi-finals.
One point will be enough for South Africa to confirm their place in the last four, meaning a draw against Eswatini will secure their progression regardless of what happens elsewhere in the group. Angola are currently on three points.
Despite their strong position, Mdaka has warned his charges against taking Eswatini lightly.
The coach believes the Swaziland side possesses players with the physical strength and pace to cause problems, and has urged his team to approach the match with the same discipline and character they showed against Angola.
“We’ve never undermined anyone, but they are also a good team,” Mdaka said after the Angola victory.
Defending champions
Amajita are not only chasing qualification for the semi-finals but are also defending a regional crown they have won in the last two editions.
South Africa won the COSAFA Under-20 title in Mozambique in 2024 before successfully defending the crown at the 2025 Region 5 Games in Namibia, where they defeated Malawi 3-0 in the final.
Mdaka, who guided South Africa to the historic 2025 CAF Under-20 Africa Cup of Nations title, is now attempting to add another regional trophy to the team’s achievements.
More than just a regional championship
The stakes in Mozambique are considerably higher than simply defending the COSAFA title.
The 2026 tournament doubles as the CAF Under-20 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) COSAFA Qualifier, with the two finalists earning places at the 2027 Under-20 AFCON in Ghana.
That makes every group match crucial for Amajita, who are determined to return to the continental stage after their memorable triumph in 2025.
The 12-team tournament features three groups, with the group winners and the best runner-up advancing to the semi-finals. The two finalists will then secure qualification for the 2027 CAF Under-20 AFCON.
Wednesday’s encounter therefore presents an opportunity to close out the group stage unbeaten, secure a semi-final berth and move another step closer to defending their COSAFA crown while keeping their AFCON qualification ambitions firmly on course.