23 January 2019 – South Africa’s National Under-20 (Amajita) coach Thabo Senong named his 21-man squad that is to travel to Niger ahead of the upcoming CAF 2019 Africa Cup of Nations set to run from 2 – 17 February on Wednesday.

Senong kept the bulk of his Amajita squad that defended their 2018 COSAFA Under-20 Championship title in Kitwe, Zambia after beating Zimbabwe 4-3 on penalties, following a 1-1 draw after fulltime in the final.

Portugal-based Sanjoanense FC forward Kobamelo Kodisang, AmaZulu defender Sibusiso Mabiliso and Mamelodi Sundowns’ Thabo Moloisane, returned to the national setup after missing out in last year’s Southern regional football tournament.

New faces in Senong’ squad include Bidvest Wits defender Keenan Phillips, Real Kings midfielder Luvuyo Phewa, TS Sporting’s Simphiwe Ncamani, AmaZulu forward Bayanda Shangase and Leister City’s midfielder Khanya Leshabela.

Senong stated that he had a tough time selecting from the 28 players who reported for his provisional squad, adding that all called up players fought really hard to make the final team.

Amajita will travel to Niger later this afternoon following their final practice match against SAFA’s ABC Motsepe League side Dube Continental FC, at the Nike Football Training Centre this morning.

“We worked with a very talented group which made it really difficult for us to come up with the final 21-man squad that is to represent the country in Niger,” Senong said. “It is every player’s dream to represent their nation at the highest level and is quite unfortunate that we could not take all of them.

“I believe we have selected a balanced squad that will represent the nation well in the upcoming AFCON Under-20 tournament.”

Amajita are in Group A alongside hosts Niger, Burundi and Nigeria in this year’s biennial junior continental showpiece.

A top four finish will see Amajita qualifying for the FIFA Under-20 World Cup for the second time in a row, after having done so back in 2017 for the South-Korea addition.

MEN’S U20 NATIONAL TEAM FINAL SQUAD LIST

POSITION PLAYER’S NAME CLUB
GOALKEEPERS:
1 Glen Tumelo BAADJIES Mamelodi Sundowns FC (SA)
2 Khulekani Walter KUBHEKA Cape Umoya FC (SA)
3 Kopano Lehlohonolo THUNTSANE Orlando Pirates FC (SA)
 DEFENDERS:
4 Njabulo BLOM Kaizer Chiefs FC (SA)
5 Keenan ABRAHAMS Ajax Cape Town FC (SA)
6 Givemore KHUPE Cape Umoya FC (SA)
7 Sbusiso Gideon MABILISO Amazulu  FC (SA)
8 Fezile GCABA Pele Pele FC (SA)
9 Brendon Thabo MOLOISANE Mamelodi Sundowns FC (SA)
10 Keenan Leigh  PHILLIPS Bidvest Wits FC (SA)
MIDFIELDERS:
11 Siphesihle MKHIZE M Tigers FC (SA)
12 Luke Gareth LE ROUX Supersport United FC (SA)
13 Luvuyo Howard PHEWA Real Kings FC (SA)
14 Nkosingiphile Nhlakanipho NGCOBO Kaizer Chiefs FC (SA)
15 Kobamelo KODISANG AD Sanjoanense FC (PORTUGAL)
16 Promise  Lebo MKHUMA Mamelodi Sundowns FC (SA)
17 Simphiwe Sinethemba NCAMANI TS Sporting FC (SA)
18 Thakgalo Khanya LESHABELA Leicester City FC (ENGLAND)
STRIKERS
19 James Thabiso MONYANE Pele Pele FC (SA)
20 Gadinkame Malebogo MODISE M Tigers FC (SA)
21 Bayanda  Psychology SHANGASE Amazulu FC (SA)