Amajita’s ninth Cosafa title: A reflection of team spirit, unity

The South African U20 football team (Amajita) was crowned champions of the U20 Cosafa Championship on Saturday, 5 October, in Maputo, having seen off Zambia with a score of 2-0 in the final.

South Africa last claimed the championship title in 2018, marking a significant milestone as it has been six years since they last achieved this honour. This is the ninth Cosafa title for team South Africa in the Cosafa championship.

In addition, the South African team has successfully qualified for the upcoming 2025 CAF Africa Cup of Nations. They will be joined by Zambia, the finalist they overcame in the Cosafa Championship final, as both earned their spots in upcoming CAF tournament by reaching the finals of the Cosafa Championship.

The South African triumph was achieved through goals by Shandre Campbell, who plays for Club NXT in Belgium and is an inductee of the SuperSport Schools Class of 2023, and the consistently reliable Lee Jody Ahshene.

Amajita recorded an exceptional clean sheet throughout the tournament. Under the leadership of coach, Raymond Mdaka, the team scored an impressive 16 goals during the tournament, maintaining a powerful winning streak from the group stages through to the knockout rounds.

Topping off his remarkable performances in this year’s Cosafa championship, Campbell was named Player of the Tournament, while Ahshene won the Golden Boot for his four goals scored in the tournament. South African goalkeeper, Fletcher Smythe-Lowe, who maintained a clean sheet throughout the tournament, won the Golden Glove, having played a total of 450 minutes of football throughout the tournament.

Zambia heads home with the silver, as well as the Fair Play Prize.

South Africa’s run in the Cosafa Championship:

Group Stage: 

South Africa 5-0 Malawi
South Africa 6-0 Lesotho
South Africa 2-0 Comoros

Semi-final: 

South Africa 1-0 Angola

Final: 

South Africa 2-0 Zambia

TOURNAMENT STATS:
Matches Played: 18
Goals scored: 55
Biggest victory: South Africa 6-0 Lesotho (Group C, 29 September)
Most goals in a game: 9 – Mozambique 4-5 Eswatini (Group A, 26 September)

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Siya Pongco

A passionate reader and dedicated writer, Siya possesses three degrees from Rhodes University including a Postgraduate Diploma at Rhodes University. He also played amateur cricket and soccer, both during his university years. While honing his journalism skills at Grocott’s Mail in Makhanda, he developed a profound interest in the community’s response to crime. Additionally, he covered topics such as art/culture and student politics at Rhodes University in 2022. In his spare time, Siya can be found exploring galleries, dining at restaurants, indulging in literature, taking photographs or savouring his favourite dish, spaghetti.

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