Notoane announces the SA U-23 AFCON 2019 squad

1 November 2019 – Head coach of the South African Olympic (U-23) National Team, David Notoane, has named his 21-man squad to take part in the Egypt 2019 Africa Cup of Nations scheduled to be played from 8 – 22 December.

Notoane has kept the bulk of the team that participated in the qualifiers of this prestigious tournament where the three top nations will represent the African continent at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.

South Africa will vie for the top honours against seven other countries – hosts Egypt, Zambia, Ivory Coast, Nigeria, Mali and debutants Ghana and Cameroon.

This will be their third participation in the tournament, having played in 2011 and 2015, the latter earning them a spot at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games after finishing in third position under former coach Owen Da Gama.

Notoane’s charges qualified for African showpiece following great display against Angola in the second round – winning 3-1 and 3-0.

In the third and final round they showed no mercy to neighbours Zimbabwe beating them 5-0 in the first leg, and then played to a goalless draw.

Now South Africa has been drawn in Group B alongside Nigeria, Ivory Coast and Zambia.

They open their campaign with a clash against Zambia on Saturday, 9 November 2019 followed by the fixture against Ivory Coast three days later (Tuesday, 12 November. On Friday, 15 November they will play their last group stages match against Nigeria.

All the games will be played at the Al Salam Stadium in Cairo.

The squad assembles for camp on Sunday, 3 November in Johannesburg, and depart for Cairo via Ethiopia the next day (Monday, 4 November) at 14h00.

They will arrive in Egypt on Tuesday, 5 November where they will start their preparations for the tournament.

 

U-23 AFCON FACT FILE:

• The 2019 Africa U-23 Cup of Nationswill be the third edition of the Africa U-23 Cup of Nations
• The quadrennial international age-restricted footballchampionship organised by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) for the men’s under-23 national teams of Africa
• Egyptwas announced as the new host nation of the tournament by CAF on 23 September 2017
• The competition will be played between 8–22 November 2019
• It will determine which three African teams will compete at the 2020 Summer Olympics men’s football tournamentin Japan
• Nigeriaare the defending champions.

 

QUALIFIED TEAMS:

2019 Africa U-23 Cup of Nations

Egypt(hosts)                                 2 (2011, 2015)

South Africa                                  2 (2011, 2015)

Zambia                                          1 (2015)

Ghana                                           0 (debut)

Cameroon                                    0 (debut)

Ivory Coast                                    1 (2011)

Nigeria                                           2 (2011, 2015)

Mali                                                1 (2015)

 

ROAD TO EGYPT:

1^STROUND:

BYE

 

2^NDROUND:

ANGOLA                    1 – 3        SOUTH AFRICA

SOUTH AFRICA        3 – 0        ANGOLA

 

** SOUTH AFRCA WON 6-1 ON AGGREGATE ***

 

3^RD& FINAL ROUND:

SOUTH AFRICA    5 – 0        ZIMBABWE

ZIMBABWE           0 – 0        SOUTH AFRICA

 

SA U-23 FIXTURES:

 

South Africa vZambia

Saturday, 9 November 2019

21:00

Al Salam Stadium

Cairo

 

Ivory Coast vSouth Africa

Tuesday, 12 November 2019

18:00

Al Salam Stadium,Cairo

 

Nigeria vSouth Africa

Friday, 15 November 2019

21:00

Al Salam Stadium

Cairo

 

SEMI-FINALS:

Winner Group Av             Runner-up Group B

19 November 2019

18:00

Cairo International Stadium

Cairo

 

Winner Group BvRunner-up Group A

19 November 2019

21:00

Cairo International Stadium

Cairo 

*** Winners qualify for 2020 Summer Olympicsin Tokyo ***

 

THIRD & FOURTH PLACE PLAY-0FF

Loser SF1vLoser SF2

22 November 2019

17:30

Cairo International Stadium

Cairo

*** Winner qualifies for 2020 Summer Olympics***

 

FINAL:

Winner SF1vWinner SF2

22 November 2019

21:00

Cairo International Stadium

Cairo

 

SA MEN’S U23 NATIONAL TEAM SQUAD LIST

2019 AFCON – EGYPT

 

POSITIONS & JERSEY NO.	PLAYER’S NAME	CLUB (COUNTRY)
GOALKEEPERS:
20	Mondli MPOTO	Bloemfontein Celtic FC (SA)
16	Darren JOHNSON	Ajax Town FC (SA)
1	Andile MBANJWA	Richards Bay FC (SA)
DEFENDERS:
7	Keagan JOHANNES	Ajax Cape Town FC (SA)
14	Siyabonga NGEZANA	Kaizer Chiefs FC (SA)
18	Thendo MUKUMELA	Ajax Cape Town FC (SA)
17	Thabiso MONYANE	Orlando Pirates FC (SA)
13	Happy MASHIANE	Kaizer Chiefs FC (SA)
15	Tercious MALEPE (c)	Chippa United FC (SA)
3	Katlego MOHAMME	University of Pretoria FC (SA)
21	Keanu CUPIDO	Cape Town City FC (SA)
MIDFIELDERS:
12	Sipho MBULE	Supersport United FC (SA)
5	Athenkosi DLALA	University of Pretoria FC (SA)
19	Kobamelo KODISANG	FC Braga B (PORTUGAL)
6	Kamohelo MAHLATSI	University of Pretoria FC (SA)
8	Grant MAGERMAN	Ajax Cape Town FC (SA)
4	Teboho MOKOENA	Supersport United FC (SA)
11	Luther SINGH	Moreirense FC (PORTUGAL)
FORWARDS
10	Phakamani MAHLAMBI	Mamelodi Sundowns FC (SA)
9	Lyle FOSTER	Cercle Brugge K.S.V (BELGIUM)
2	Itumeleng SHOPANE	Swallows FC (SA)