Amajita have retained the Under-20 COSAFA Championship title for a third consecutive year after securing a 2-1 victory over tournament hosts Mozambique at the ABB 1 Stadium.
Amajita won this competition for the third time in a row, following their victories in 2024 and 2025.
Goals from Oarabile Booysen and Steven Mendes proved sufficient to seal the championship for Raymond Mdaka’s side, while Martinho Começar netted the solitary goal for the home nation.
Both teams entered the final with their primary objective already secured, having earned qualification for the U-20 Africa Cup of Nations [AFCON] set to take place in Ghana next year.
Mozambique booked their place in the decider with a 3-0 victory over Namibia in the semi-finals. South Africa showed character in their semi-final clash, coming from behind to beat a resilient Zambian side 4-2.
AMAJITA’S UNBEATEN RUN RECORD IN THE TOURNAMENT
South Africa enjoyed an exceptional campaign in Mozambique, remaining undefeated across all five matches. Mdaka’s charges displayed lethal attacking efficiency and defensive discipline throughout the tournament, scoring 13 goals and conceding just three.
The focus for Amajita now shifts to next year’s continental competition in Ghana. A semi-final spot at the U-20 AFCON would guarantee South Africa a place at the FIFA U-20 World Cup. This tournament will be co-hosted by Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan.
STEVEN MENDES SHINES FOR AMAJITA AT THE COSAFA U-20 TOURNAMENT
Kaizer Chiefs youngster Steven Mendes was instrumental in Amajita’s title defence. The forward finished as the tournament’s top scorer with six goals. This cemented his reputation as one of the country’s most promising young talents.
The international exposure will serve Mendes well as he returns to club duty with the Amakhosi DStv Diski Challenge [DDC] team following the kickoff of the new reserve league season this weekend.
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