Amajita are back to defend their Under-20 AFCON title after being crowned 2026 COSAFA champions on Sunday. The African champions beat hosts Mozambique 2-1 to retain the COSAFA U-20 Championship, having already qualified for the continental competition by reaching the final of the regional tournament.
The 2027 U-20 AFCON will be hosted by Ghana, and Raymond Mdaka’s boys will be pushing to build on the history they made in 2025 when they claimed continental honours for the first time.
They also became the first South African youth team to win an AFCON title. The Ghana tournament will also see them seeking passage to the 2027 FIFA Under-20 World Cup. FARPost runs through the top performers who delivered gold for Mdaka’s side in 2025 and how they have progressed in their respective careers.
FLETCHER SMYTHE-LOWE
The Cape Town-born star was named AFCON’s best goalkeeper after keeping four clean sheets in seven games. He was then an Under-23 goalkeeper at Portuguese Primeira Liga side GD Estoril Praia.
At 19, the former Ubuntu Football Academy goalkeeper has now broken into the Estoril Praia first team. Smythe-Lowe was on the bench in their last three games as he pushes to dislodge veteran Spaniard and ex-English Premier League goalkeeper Joel Robles as first-choice keeper.
NEO RAPOO
Since that U-20 AFCON tournament, Rapoo has made huge strides in his career. The left-back is now at Orlando Pirates after going to the Egypt competition as a SuperSport United player, before turning out for Siwelele FC last season.
Rapoo’s standout performances for Mdaka’s team earned him a place in the tournament Best XI, and it is no surprise he is now at Pirates, where he is competing for game time against veteran Deon Hotto and Nkosikhona Ndaba.
TYLON SMITH
Named Player of the Tournament at the triumphant U-20 edition, Smith rose to sign for English Championship side Queens Park Rangers from Stellenbosch FC. He was even part of the Bafana Bafana 2025 AFCON squad as former South Africa coach Hugo Broos sought to groom him for the senior national team.
But after managing just four appearances for QPR last season, the centre-back was loaned out to MLS side New England Revolution, where he is yet to play competitive football for the first team.
THATO SIBIYA
Sibiya featured prominently at the U-20 AFCON, making six appearances. After one Betway Premiership appearance, one in the Nedbank Cup and two CAF Champions League matches for Mamelodi Sundowns last season, Sibiya has since moved to France.
He is now on loan at LOSC Lille, where he is turning out for their B side. Mdaka was spoiled for choice at left-back, with Rapoo, Sibiya and Asekho Tiwani also in the mix.
GOMOLEMO KEKANA
The Sundowns defensive midfielder featured in all seven games and scored the winning goal as Amajita beat Morocco 1-0 in the final at the June 30 Stadium in Cairo. After that U-20 AFCON final, the 20-year-old graduated to the Masandawana first team and played in the CAF Champions League as a centre-back against Remo Stars last season, as well as making one Betway Premiership appearance.
He has played one league match so far this season as he bids for more game time.
MFUNDO VILAKAZI
Vilakazi was already a Kaizer Chiefs first-team player when Amajita went to Egypt. Despite being absent for Amakhosi while on national team duty that season, he still managed 22 league games.
He remains a regular and played 21 Betway Premiership matches last term. He has enjoyed minutes in all Chiefs’ games this season, except the league tie against Sundowns, where he was an unused substitute.
JODY AH SHENE
Another regular at the U-20 AFCON, where he started all seven games, Ah Shene was then with Cape Town City FC. But he joined Sundowns in January 2026 and was immediately loaned out to University of Pretoria.
He is back on loan at AmaTuks and has been a regular this season as they push for a return to the South African top flight.
KUTLWANO LETLHAKU
One of the success stories from this victorious Amajita side, Letlhaku started both legs of the Champions League final last season as Sundowns were crowned the Kings of Africa. It was a season in which his game time improved after making 15 appearances in all competitions.
Letlhaku also played at the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, where he featured in two games and provided an assist for Lebo Mothiba to score Sundowns’ third goal against Borussia Dortmund. However, the 20-year-old has managed just four appearances in all competitions this season as he looks to be handed more playing minutes.
FAIZ ABRAHAMS
Abrahams was not much of a regular at the U-20 AFCON where he played three games, but his rise has been constant. Stellenbosch loaned him to Israeli second-tier side Hapoel Kfar Saba before the start of last season, but he returned home in February 2026.
The 21-year-old is on loan again, this time at Soweto giants Chiefs, where he hopes to impress and earn a permanent contract at the end of this term. He made his first start for Amakhosi against Golden Arrows and has played in their last four league matches, scoring one goal.
LAZOLA MAKU
Another Amajita star who made the tournament Best XI in Egypt after playing all seven games, Maku remains part of the Amajita setup. He is captain of the team that won the COSAFA Championship on Sunday.
However, after leaving Siwelele FC following his debut Betway Premiership season, the 19-year-old is clubless. He recently underwent trials at three Austrian clubs: SV Ried, Rapid Vienna and second-tier outfit FC Wacker Innsbruck. But as a free agent, he can join a new team outside the transfer window.
LANGELIHLE PHILI
One of the most-talked-about players in the market during the just-closed PSL transfer window, Phili won a Chiefs contract. The winger played five games in Egypt and was already enjoying regular first-team football at Stellenbosch, where he also played in the CAF Confederation Cup that season.
Now at Chiefs, Phili is injured after just three appearances and a goal, having made an immediate impact.
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