South African Football Association (SAFA) President Dr Danny Jordaan has praised the Amajimbos after their remarkable qualification for the Round of 32 at the FIFA U17 Men’s World Cup in Doha, Qatar — the first time a South African team at this level has advanced past the group stage.
Coach Vela Khumalo’s side collected four points from three matches — a win, a draw, and a loss — finishing second behind Italy, who beat them 3–1. Despite the defeat, Jordaan highlighted the team’s technical ability and growth throughout the tournament.
“You can see this team can play football,” said Dr Jordaan. “Even FIFA’s observers were impressed. Of course, mistakes at this level are costly, but they will learn and improve from this experience.”
Jordaan noted that while some of Italy’s players already feature in top European leagues, South Africa still needs to create similar opportunities for its young talents to play at higher levels. He believes this tournament experience will accelerate their development both individually and collectively.
The achievement marks South Africa’s second-ever appearance at a FIFA U17 World Cup, following the 2015 edition in Chile. This time, the Amajimbos not only advanced but also recorded the nation’s first-ever U17 World Cup victory, setting a new milestone for youth football in the country.
Dr Jordaan linked the team’s rise to a long-term development plan shaped in collaboration with FIFA’s Arsène Wenger, including the introduction of youth structures from U15 level upward. He credited CAF President Patrice Motsepe’s investment in school sports as a key driver in bridging the gap between African and European junior teams.
“This team has grown from the COSAFA tournament in Soweto to AFCON in Morocco and now to the World Cup,” Jordaan said. “It shows what can happen when proper youth structures are in place.”
The Amajimbos now await confirmation of their Round of 32 opponents, joining a strong field that includes Brazil, France, Japan, Portugal, Argentina, Egypt, and Senegal, among others.