South Africa Under 17 vs Japan Form, Team News, and All You Need to Know Before Saturday’s Clash
South Africa’s national under-17 football team, Amajimbos, have marched into the Round of 32 at the 2025 FIFA U-17 World Cup in Qatar after an inspiring group stage campaign that underlined their growth and resilience.
Vela Khumalo’s young side collected four points from three matches — beating Bolivia 3–1, drawing 1–1 with hosts Qatar, and losing 3–1 to European champions Italy. The results were enough to secure a historic qualification as Group A runners-up, marking another proud milestone for South African youth football.
| Date | Opponent | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 3 November 2025 | Bolivia | 3–1 Win |
| 6 November 2025 | Qatar | 1–1 Draw |
| 9 November 2025 | Italy | 1–3 Loss |
Amajimbos’ attacking style and composure under pressure have earned them praise across the continent. Emile Witbooi’s creativity, Shaun Els’ clinical finishing, and a solid defensive core have been central to their success.
Building on an Impressive Run
The Amajimbos’ qualification continues a superb run of form stretching back to 2024. The South Africans lifted the COSAFA U-17 title in Harare in September 2024 with dominant wins over Zambia (4–0), Madagascar (5–1), and Comoros (7–0), before edging Angola 2–1 in the final. Earlier that year, they also showed promise at the AFCON U-17 in Morocco, famously beating Egypt 4–3 and drawing with Cameroon.
Their friendly record has also been strong — including 4–0 and 3–1 victories over Lesotho in Soweto, proving their consistency and ability to score freely.
| Year | Competition | Notable Results |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | COSAFA U-17 | Champions – beat Angola 2–1 in Final |
| 2024 | AFCON U-17 | Beat Egypt 4–3, drew with Cameroon 0–0 |
| 2024 | Friendlies | Beat Lesotho 4–0, 3–1 |
| 2025 | FIFA U-17 World Cup | Advanced to Round of 32 |
Next Challenge – Japan
Their next test will be a Round of 32 clash against Japan on 15 November 2025, a fixture that promises to be one of the standout ties of the knockout stage.
Japan, unbeaten in their group, topped Group B with two wins and one draw — defeating Morocco 2–0 and Portugal 2–1, while being held 0–0 by New Caledonia.
| Japan’s Group B Results |
|---|
| vs Morocco – 2–0 Win |
| vs New Caledonia – 0–0 Draw |
| vs Portugal – 2–1 Win |
The Japanese side, known for their high-pressing, technical play, will face an Amajimbos team high on confidence and belief. With South Africa’s rich attacking form and proven ability to handle pressure on big stages, this encounter is expected to be fiercely contested.
Kick-off: 15 November 2025
Fixture: Japan U17 vs South Africa U17
Competition: FIFA U-17 World Cup – Round of 32
Venue: Doha, Qatar
Amajimbos’ journey continues — and the dream of another historic chapter in South African football is very much alive.
Wish Amajimbos well against a strong, fast pace Japan